The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Key Dental Practice - Willenhall

26 The Square On Lichfield Road, New Invention, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV12 5EA (01922) 476993

Provided and run by:
Dr. Manoj Dhanda

All Inspections

29 August 2023

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Key Dental practice on 29 August 2023. This inspection was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.

The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.

We had previously undertaken a comprehensive inspection of Key Dental Practice on 18 May 2023 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing well-led care and was in breach of regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Key dental practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk.

When 1 or more of the 5 questions are not met, we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvement was required.

As part of this inspection, we asked:

  • Is it well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 18 May 2023.

Background

Key Dental Practice is in Willenhall 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, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with specific needs.

The dental team includes 3 dentists, 1 foundation dentist, 9 dental nurses (including 4 trainee nurses), 1 practice manager and 2 receptionists. The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse, 1 receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday from 9am to 6pm (Closed for lunch from 1pm to 2pm).

Friday from 9am to 4.30pm (Closed for lunch from 1pm to 2pm).

Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

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

  • Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK).

  • Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice.

  • Take action to ensure audits of radiography, infection prevention and control and record keeping accurately reflect clinical practice and where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.

18 May 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 18 May 2023 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 advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

  • The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Not all essential equipment was available. Appropriate medicines were available.
  • The practice did not have all the required systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. However, staff had not completed the required training.
  • The provider did not follow their recruitment policy in line with current legislation.
  • Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
  • The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
  • We found shortfalls in the leadership and oversight of the practice.
  • Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
  • Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
  • The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

Key Dental Practice is in is Willenhall and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 3 dentists, 1 foundation dentist, 9 dental nurses (including 4 trainee nurses), 1 practice manager and 2 receptionists. The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse, 1 receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday from 9am to 6pm (Closed for lunch from 1pm to 2pm)

Friday from 9am to 4.30pm (Closed for lunch from 1pm to 2pm)

Saturday from 9am to 1pm

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

8 March 2016

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 8 March 2016 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.

Background

Key Dental Practice is a mixed dental practice providing NHS and private dental treatment for both adults and children. The service is provided by six dentists. They are supported by a practice manager and six dental nurses (two of whom are trainees). The dental nurses also carry out reception duties.

The practice is located in a busy shopping precinct and is all on the ground floor so can accommodate patients with restricted mobility. The premises consist of a reception area, waiting room, toilet facilities, three treatment rooms and a decontamination room. There is free parking and dedicated parking bays for patients with disabilities. Opening hours are from 9am to 6pm on Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 1pm on Fridays. The practice is also open on Saturdays from 9am to 4.30pm.

The provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

Twenty-eight patients provided feedback about the practice. We looked at comment cards patients had completed prior to the inspection and we also spoke with patients on the day of the inspection. Overall the information from patients was complimentary. Patients were positive about their experience and they commented that staff were gentle, kind and professional.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including infection prevention and control, health and safety, safeguarding and the management of medical emergencies. We identified some areas of improvement and these were actioned promptly.
  • Patients told us they found the staff helpful and friendly. Patients commented they felt involved in their treatment and that it was fully explained to them.
  • Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
  • Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current legislation.
  • The practice had a structured plan in place to audit quality and safety.
  • Staff received training appropriate to their roles.
  • There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
  • The practice had an effective complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
  • Staff told us they felt well supported and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.
  • The practice demonstrated that they regularly undertook audits in infection control, radiography and dental care record keeping.


There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

  • Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure character references for new staff are requested and recorded suitably.
  • Review the storage of dental care products and medicines requiring refrigeration to ensure they are stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance and the fridge temperature is monitored and recorded.
  • Regularly carry out staff appraisals so that learning needs, concerns and aspirations can be formally discussed.

30 December 2011

During a routine inspection

We conducted telephone interviews with five people who use the service. People told us that they had no concerns about the care and treatment they received. They made some of the following comments:

'I have been using this dentist a long time, approximately 12 years. He is brilliant. I had a lot of problems and he looked after me and he is absolutely great. I have recommended him to lots of my friends.'

'We were recommended and we have been with them about five years. They are very good.'

The facilities and resources offered at this practice include three surgery rooms, two full time dentist, one foundation dentist and five dental nurses. The reception entrance and all surgery rooms are on the ground floor which makes the practice accessible to people with mobility restrictions.

During our visit we looked around the premises. We spoke to all the dentists including the registered provider, three dental nurses and looked at records for three people who had visited the surgery recently.

Evidence that we gathered during this review confirmed that people are assessed to decide what dental and oral healthcare needs they may have. Treatments that people may need are discussed with them and are carried out in a satisfactory way.

We found that people receive treatment in an environment which was clean and managed so as to reduce the risk of infections.