Four Oaks Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Person-centred Care is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Care provision, Integration and continuity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Providing Information is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Listening to and involving people is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

Leaders and staff described the reasonable adjustments they had made to ensure the practice was accessible. This included a hearing induction loop and a magnifying glass. Patients had access to electronic tablets for completion of medical history or consent forms; to assist visually impaired patients information on the electronic tablets could be enlarged. Staff had access to language translation as needed. All treatment rooms were on the first floor of the building and there was no accessible toilet. The building was not accessible to people who used wheelchairs or those with pushchairs. The practice signposted patients with access requirements to other local practices as needed. Staff were clear about the importance of providing emotional support to patients when delivering care. For example, staff said that they often held patient’s hands when they were having treatment, they chatted to them to make them feel at ease and they always took their time to explain treatments in detail.

Staff had carried out a disability access audit and had formulated an action plan to continually improve access for patients. The practice supported more vulnerable members of society such as patients living with dementia or adults and children with a learning disability. The practice displayed its opening hours and provided information on their website and social media page. The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The practice provided telephone numbers for patients needing emergency dental treatment during the working day and when the practice was not open. At the time of our assessment, patients who needed an urgent appointment were offered one in a timely manner. When the practice was unable to offer an urgent appointment, they worked with partner organisations to support urgent access for patients.

The judgement for Equity in experiences and outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Planning for the future is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.