Bellissima Clinic

We carried out this announced inspection on 8 May 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

Bellissima Clinic is in Tanworth-in-Arden, Solihull and provides private treatment to adults and children.

There is a small step into the practice from the street which limits access for people who use wheelchairs. All new patients are advised that there is a step by the reception team. Car parking spaces, including several for blue badge holders, are available in the streets surrounding the practice.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, a visiting implantologist, a visiting clinical dental technician, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, one dental hygienist, one dental hygiene therapist and one receptionist. The practice has one treatment room.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection, we collected 33 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with five patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one dental nurse and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday from 9am to 5pm.

Tuesday from 9am to 7pm.

Wednesday from 9am to 5pm.

Thursday from 9am to 7pm.

Friday from 9am to 4pm.

Saturday from 9am to 4pm (alternate weeks).

Our key findings were:

• Effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist. Staff felt supported by the principal dentist and told us they were committed to providing a high-quality service to their patients.
• The provider renovated and moved to this premises in 2011. The provider had expanded services to accommodate specialists such as an implantologist and a clinical dental technician. This enabled patients to receive more advanced treatments in surroundings they were familiar with and reduced waiting times for these complex treatments.
• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. On the day of our visit the principal dentist was unable to locate the infection control audit which had been completed electronically in April 2019, this was sent to us to review the following day.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. We were advised that the oxygen cylinder had been serviced within 12 months however there was no certificate or documentary evidence to support this. A replacement cylinder was in place the following day.
• The practice had comprehensive 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 were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health. They routinely referred patients to their dental hygienist and hygiene therapist through a clear care pathway.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs. Patients could access treatment and urgent care when required. The practice offered extended hours appointments opening late on Tuesday and Thursday to 7pm. Saturday appointments were also available on alternate weeks for patients preferring not to attend during the week.
• The provider demonstrated a culture of continuous improvement. In-house training in basic life support and online core training were provided by the principal dentist.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team. Several of the team members had worked with the principal dentist in excess of 20 years and therefore they had built professional and effective working relationships with one another and longstanding patients.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had systems and processes to deal with complaints positively and efficiently although they had not received any complaints to date.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.