Merali Dental Clinic

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 6 September 2022 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• 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:

• The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Improvements were needed to ensure risk assessments for the use of hazardous materials were undertaken.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which broadly reflected current legislation. Improvements were needed to ensure that appropriate checks were completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. Improvements were needed to ensure clinicians recorded justification for taking radiographs and a report on the findings.

Background

Merali Dental Clinic is in Wembley, Middlesex 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 on site. The practice does not have an accessible patient toilet and they have systems in place to ensure patients are informed of this ahead of their appointment.

The dental team includes three dentists, three dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, one dental hygienist and one receptionist. They are supported by a compliance manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist who also acts as the practice manager, one locum dentist, one dental nurse and the compliance manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm

Saturday 9am to 2pm

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.
• Take action to ensure clinicians record in the patients’ dental care records or elsewhere the reason for taking X-rays and a report on the findings in compliance with Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account the guidance for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment.
• Implement an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.