The Royston Dental Practice

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 29 November 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 always ask 5 key questions:

• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive?
• 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 mostly reflected published guidance.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Some dental care records lacked detail and did not follow College of General Dentistry guidance.
• Not all recommendations for the practice’s radiation safety report had been implemented.

Background

The Royston Dental Practice provides both private and NHS dental treatment for adults and children.

The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs. There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs, downstairs surgeries and a portable induction hearing loop.

The dental team includes 2 dentists, 1 dental hygienist, an office manager and a qualified dental nurse.

The practice has 2 treatment rooms.

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

The practice is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 5pm, on Wednesdays from 8am to 3pm, and on Fridays from 8am to 2pm.

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

• Improve the practice's protocols and procedures for the use of X-ray equipment in compliance with The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account the guidance for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment.

• Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices.

• Improve the security of NHS prescription pads and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.

• Ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.

• Implement a system so that patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals are centrally monitored to ensure that they are received in a timely manner and not lost.