Wightwick Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 12 March 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

Wightwick Dental Practice is in Wolverhampton and provides private treatment to adults and children.

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

The dental team includes two dentists, one dental nurse and one receptionist. Specialist dentists who also work at the practice on an as required basis include an implant dentist, oral surgeon and orthodontist. The practice has one treatment room that is currently in use and one other which is set up and ready for use. Other treatment rooms which require equipment to be installed are available for use in the future.

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 Wightwick Dental Practice is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we received feedback from ten patients.

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

The practice is open: Monday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5.30pm, Tuesday 9am to 6pm and Wednesday 9am to 1pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained. Patients commented that the practice was modern and always immaculate.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Not all appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available but missing items were purchased on the day of inspection.
• The practice 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. Staff had worked at the practice since it opened and had previously been employed by the partners at another practice.
• 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.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs. The practice website shows that patients could request early morning or evening appointments.
• The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team. Staff said that they were proud to work at the practice.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had systems in place to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Review the availability of equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.

• Review the practice's policy for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk  product safety data sheets are available.