We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 16 June 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

Deu Dental Headingley is situated in the Headingly area of Leeds, West Yorkshire. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has three surgeries, a decontamination room, an X-ray room, two waiting areas and a reception area. The reception area, one waiting area, the X-ray room and one surgery are on the ground floor. The other two surgeries and the second smaller waiting area are on the first floor. There are accessible toilet facilities on the ground floor of the premises.

There are three dentists (one of which is a foundation dentist), two dental hygienists, six dental nurses (three of which are trainees), two receptionists and a practice manager. 

The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9-00am to 5-30pm.

The practice owner 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.

During the inspection we spoke with three patients who used the service and reviewed 74 completed CQC comment cards. The patients were all positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that the premises were hygienic and safe, they were made to feel relaxed and comfortable and that staff were polite, friendly and helpful. Patients also commented that treatment was well explained and they were given good advice with respect to dental hygiene.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention, control and health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Dental care records were detailed and showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff. Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• Staff from the practice participated in smile month and made visits to local schools to provide oral hygiene advice
• The practice had an effective complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• The practice had effective governance arrangements in place and regularly audited clinical and non-clinical areas relating to the dental practice

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice’s arrangements the storage of local anaesthetics.

All five people we spoke with told us they were very satisfied with the care and treatment they received.

People said they were fully involved in decisions about their treatments and the dentist was very good at explaining the treatment they received. People told us the dentists gave them information about the treatment options and the costs were explained. They told us they felt comfortable to ask questions about the treatments available if they wished to do so. All five people we spoke with told us that their privacy, confidentiality and dignity was always maintained and respected.

All the people we spoke with told us that they made routine and follow up appointments before they left the dentist. They also told us that they very rarely had to wait to see the dentist. However, if the dentist was running a little behind each person told us they were kept informed about the delays.

People who told us they were happy with the care they received and no concerns were expressed about the treatment provided at the practice. People told us if they had any concerns or complaints they would discuss them with members of staff, the provider or the dentist.

The five people we spoke with told us that the practice was always clean, tidy and they had no concerns with the hygiene.