214 Dental

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 16 June 2023 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (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:

• The dental clinic appeared clean and tidy.
• The practice had infection control procedures. Improvements could be made to fully bring in line with current guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies.
• Improvements could be made to the system for managing the risks associated with fire and Legionella.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
• The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

214 Dental is in Manchester and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 3 dentists (1 is a foundation dentist), 2 qualified dental nurses (1 is also the practice manager), 1 trainee dental nurse and 1 dental hygienist and therapist. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists and 2 dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday and Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm

Tuesday to Thursday from 8:30am to 4:30pm

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's fire safety risk assessment and ensure ongoing fire safety management is effective.
• Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices. In particular, ensuring the appropriate tests are carried out on the ultrasonic bath.
• Take action to ensure water temperatures are within the current range to ensure the thermic control of Legionella.