We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 1 November 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

Alpha Dental Studio Leyburn is situated in the centre of Leyburn, North Yorkshire. The practice is part of a shared facility providing physiotherapy and chiropody services. The practice offers NHS and private dental treatments including preventative advice, cosmetic dental treatment and general dentistry.

The practice has one surgery, a decontamination area within the surgery, a waiting area, a reception area and patient toilets. All facilities are located on the ground floor of the premises.

There are three dentists, a dental hygiene therapist, three dental nurses (one of which is a trainee), a practice manager and an area management team.

The practice is open between the hours of 8:30am and 5:30pm Monday – Friday.

The area manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. 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.

On the day of inspection we received feedback from 15 patients. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to provide excellent care, helpful and professional. Patients commented they could access emergency care easily and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had very good systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Infection control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• Treatment was well planned and provided in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The governance systems were effective and embedded.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff felt supported at all levels.

We spoke with people in the waiting room at the practice. Everybody we spoke with told us that they were happy with the staff and the service they received. Their comments included, "Everything is good" "I find everyone very friendly here” “I am very satisfied with the service; it would be missed if we did not have it” and “the dentist is wonderful and explains everything to me including treatment and costs”

People we spoke with said they had read the information folder provided and would raise any concerns that they had with the reception staff.

People also told us that they had no concerns around the cleanliness of the practice.