Updated 22 June 2021
We carried out this announced focussed inspection 1 June 2021 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 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 asked the following three questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Carlton Dental Care is in the Carlton area of Nottingham 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, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes 11 dentists including two specialist oral surgeons and two foundation dentists, seven dental nurses including two trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one treatment co-ordinator, one receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has eight treatment rooms, four are located on the ground floor.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 Carlton Dental Care is the principal dentist.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three 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 to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly 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 safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- 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.
- Medicines dispensed by the practice were not always labelled according to Regulations.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- The system of audits should be reviewed to ensure all data is captured and areas for improvement identified.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- Improvements could be made to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 records with risk assessments for each product.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's processes for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken and the products are stored securely.
- Improve systems to ensure medicines dispensed from the practice were labelled according to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
- Take action to ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated. In addition, the information used for audits should be accurate and where appropriate specific to named clinicians.