We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 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 regulation.

Background

Forestside Dental Practice operates from commercial premises and provides private dentistry for both adults and children. The practice is situated in Dibden Purlieu, a village on the east side of the New Forest in Hampshire.

The practice is based on the ground and first floor. The ground floor is accessible to wheelchair users, prams and patients with limited mobility. The practice has three dental treatment rooms, one of which is based on the ground floor. The practice has a separate decontamination room used for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments.

The practice employs three dentists, one hygienist, six dental nurses and three reception staff.The practice opens Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Extended hours are available on alternate Wednesdays and Thursdays until 7pm.

There are arrangements in place to ensure patients receive urgent dental assistance when the practice is closed. This is provided by an out-of-hours service. If patients call the practice when it is closed, an answerphone message gives the telephone number patients should ring depending on their symptoms.

The practice owner is registered as an individual and is legally responsible for making sure that the practice meets the requirements relating to safety and quality of care, as specified in the regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

During our inspection we reviewed 32 CQC comment cards completed by patients and obtained the views of seven patients on the day of our inspection.

The inspection was carried out by a lead inspector and a dental specialist adviser.

Our key findings were:

• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.

• Effective clinical leadership was provided by the principle dentist who was also the practice owner.

• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.

• Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance.

• The practice had a safeguarding lead with effective processes in place for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• There was a policy and procedure in place for recording adverse incidents and accidents.

• Dentists provided dental care in accordance with current professional and National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run.

• Patients could access treatment and urgent and emergency care when required.

• Staff we spoke with felt well supported by the practice owner and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.

• Information from 32 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave us a positive picture of a friendly, caring, professional and high quality service.

• The practice reviewed and dealt with complaints according to its practice policy.

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

• Consider installing a hearing loop for patients with hearing difficulties.
• Amend the annual infection control statement to include details of staff training in relation to infection prevention control.
• Undertake a Legionella risk assessment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’
• Amend the practice's recruitment policy so that procedures are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, specifically by undertaking health assessment checks in respect of persons prior to employment at the practice.
• Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and through the Central Alerting System (CAS), as well as from other relevant bodies such as Public Health England (PHE).
• Review the practice’s safeguarding training; ensuring all staff receive Level 2 verifiable continuing professional development in child safeguarding matters.