Garston Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 25 May 2021 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 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 focussed on the key questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

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

Background

Garston Dental Practice is based in South Liverpool, Merseyside, and provides NHS and some private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is stepped access to the practice at the front of the building, but a portable ramp is available for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking is available on the road immediately outside the practice, and in adjoining roads.

The dental team is led by the Principal Dentist and provider, Dr Clare Robinson. The team includes three associate dentists, nine dental nurses, and dental hygiene therapist. The practice has four treatment rooms.

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.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one associate dentist and three dental nurses. We also spoke with two dental nursing staff who oversee the reception function, and safe exit and entry of patients to the practice in the context of COVID. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 5pm. On Tuesday the practice is open from 8am to 4pm, and on Thursday from 9am to 7pm.

The practice had opened and operated as a designated urgent care centre, from April 2020, providing patients with urgent dental care which could not be accessed elsewhere due to national lockdown restrictions. The practice reopened fully in June 2020 and having addressed patient backlog, has now moved to offering routine treatment to patients registered with them, whilst continuing to operate as an urgent care centre, receiving referrals from across the Liverpool area.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Standard operating processes had been implemented and refined to ensure COVID security of the practice. We saw that additional infection control procedures had been implemented to support COVID safety.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• 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 provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system in place prioritised those with urgent dental needs.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.