The Eledent Clinic

Updated 20 August 2015

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 09 July 2015. The inspection took place over one day. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector. They were accompanied by a dentist specialist advisor.

We reviewed information received from the provider prior to the inspection. We also informed the local Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice; however we did not receive any information of concern from them.

During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents and dental care records. We spoke with three members of staff, including the principal dentist. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We observed dental nurses carrying out decontamination procedures of dental instruments and also observed staff interacting with patients in the waiting area.

49 people provided feedback about the service. Patients we spoke with, and those who completed comment cards, were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 20 August 2015

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 09 July 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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.

The Eledent Clinic is located in the London Borough of Sutton. The premises consist of three treatment rooms, a dedicated decontamination room, waiting room with reception area and toilet.

The practice provides private dental services and treats both adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment, veneers, crowns and bridges, and oral hygiene.

The staff structure of the practice is comprised of three principal dentists (who are also the owners), two associates, three trainee dental nurses and one receptionist. The dental nurses also act as receptionists and one of the principal dentists works as the practice manager. The practice also works with a visiting dentist who provides complex periodontal (gum) treatment and a medical anaesthetist who provides conscious sedation for patients who are nervous about their dental treatment or who require complex oral surgical procedures.

The practice is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm and on Saturday from 8.00am to 1.00pm.

This is a new practice which registered with the CQC in April 2013. It has not previously been inspected. One of the principal dentists is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 09 July 2015. The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and dentist specialist advisor.

49 people provided feedback about the service. Patients we spoke with, and those who completed comment cards, were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and patient attitude of the dental staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• Staff reported incidents and kept records of these which the practice used for shared learning.

• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and patient practice team.

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The principal dentists had a clear vision for the practice and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

• Governance arrangements and audits were effective in improving the quality and safety of the services.