We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 01 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

Belmont Park Dental Care is an orthodontic practice located in the London Borough of Lewisham and provides predominantly NHS dental services. The demographics of the practice were mixed, serving patients from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds. The majority of the patients receiving treatment at the practice were children aged under 16 years.

The practice staffing consists of an orthodontist, a dental nurse and receptionist.

The practice is open from 8.00am to 12.30pm on Monday; 8.30am to 5.30pm on Tuesdays; 1.30pm to 5.45pm on Fridays and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays. The practice has use of a treatment room within another dental practice. It is located on the ground floor and the premises are wheelchair accessible and include a wheelchair accessible toilet for patients.

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

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dentist specialist advisor.

We received 44 completed Care Quality Commission comment cards. Patient feedback was extremely positive about the service. Patients told us that staff were professional and caring and treated them with respect. Some comments were completed by parents of children who had received treatment at the surgery. They commented that their children were treated in an age appropriate way and staff were caring towards their children when delivering treatment. They commented that the premises were always clean and tidy and they described the service as very good and providing an excellent standard of care.

Our key findings were:

• Appropriate systems were in place to safeguard patients from abuse. Staff were trained to the appropriate levels for child protection.
• The provider had emergency medicines and equipment such as oxygen and an automated external defibrillator (AED) in line with national guidance.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and most equipment was well maintained except for the servicing of the pressure vessel.
• All clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice; and the practice had a structured plan in place to audit quality and safety which included the mandatory audits for infection control and radiography.

We spoke with four patients and their parents during our inspection. They were all satisfied with the treatments they had received and made favourable comments about the practice. One patient told us, "They were nice to me. I like it here. The orthodontist was very good and very patient." Another patient's parent told us, "We had the first appointment today and so far we're impressed. They explained the options available with braces and retainers."

However, some patients mentioned that getting appointments could be difficult. Most patients were of school age, so their parents spoke of the need to avoid clashes with school hours, making suitable appointment slots very popular and not readily available.

There were arrangements in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection, including staff training, policies and procedures, and decontamination arrangements.

Staff were supported in their work and had access to continuing professional development (CPD). Subjects covered as part of staff CPD included a range of topics related to their professional work, such as infection control and medical emergencies.

Quality monitoring arrangements were in place in the service, including survey questionnaires and audits and incidents recording and management.