We carried out this announced inspection on 3 August 2017 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.

We told the NHS England that we were inspecting the practice. They provided us with information which we took into account.

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

Creek Road Dental Practice is in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs. There are limited car parking spaces, including two places that patients can use at the rear of the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, three dental nurses, two receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has two 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.

On the day of inspection we collected 32 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, a dental nurse, a receptionist 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, Tuesday and Thursday 9:am-6:pm

Wednesday 9:am-8:pm

Friday 9:am-5:pm

Saturday 9:am-1:pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• 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.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

All the people we spoke with had received treatment from a dentist on the day of our inspection and each person told us that they were happy with the treatment they had received. For example, one person told us that the appointment system was “good”, and staff were “helpful” and “polite”. Another person told us the service was “extraordinary” and staff were “kind”. People told us that staff were sensitive to their needs and made them comfortable when they were anxious. All the people we spoke with told us that they were involved in making decisions about their treatment and felt the surgery was visibly clean.

We found that people were involved in planning their care and treatment and were provided enough information to allow them to make informed decisions. People received treatment after an examination and people's medical history was checked to ensure they received care safely. There were appropriate emergency procedures in place including emergency drugs and resuscitation equipment. There were policies and procedures in place to ensure that children and vulnerable adults were protected from abuse. Decontamination procedures were generally in line with the provider's policy. The provider had appropriate records management systems in place.