Updated 20 August 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 23 July 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
Bank Buildings Dental Surgery is in Sudbury, Suffolk and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including for blue badge holders, are available in car parks near the practice.
The dental team includes ten dentists, three dental nurses plus five trainee dental nurses, three dental hygienists, a lead receptionist and three receptionists, a cleaner, a deputy practice manager and a practice manager. Of the ten dentists one dentist has a special interest in endodontics, one in periodontics and one in orthodontics. The practice has eight treatment rooms.
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 Bank Buildings Dental Surgery is the practice manager.
On the day of inspection, we collected seven CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with four dentists, three dental nurses, one dental hygienist, two receptionists, the deputy practice manager, the corporate area manager and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Thursday from 7.30am to 6.30pm and Friday from 7.30am to 5pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was part of a corporate group which had a support centre located in Pinner, Middlesex, where support teams including human resources, IT, finance, health and safety, learning and development, clinical support and patient support services were based. These teams supported and offered advice and updates to the practice when required.
- Strong and effective leadership was provided by an empowered practice manager who was supported by a deputy practice manager and a lead receptionist.
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- 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 suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures. Not all staff inductions were recorded.
- 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 supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- The provider asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt 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 practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.
- Review the practice’s protocols for ensuring that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.