Updated 25 November 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 5 November 2019 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?
These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Arnold Dental Care lies to the north of Nottingham in the Arnold area of the city and provides NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.
The dental team includes five dentists, one dental hygienist, five dental nurses including two trainees, one receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms and a centralised dental instrument decontamination room. All three treatment rooms are located on the ground floor. There is level access with an automatic door into the practice. There is also level access into the treatment rooms, which is of benefit to patients in wheelchairs, with restricted mobility and parents with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice in pay and display car parks, although the first two hours are free of charge. The nearest car park includes spaces for blue badge holders.
The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Arnold Dental Care is one of the partners.
On the day of inspection, we collected 39 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. Comments from patients were positive.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists and two dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday: from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Tuesday: from 8.45am to 8pm, Wednesday: from 8.45am to 8pm, Thursday: from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Friday: from 8.30am to 5pm and Saturday: from 9am to 12.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.