We carried out a comprehensive inspection of Green Lane Dental Care on 02 June 2015 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

Green Lane Dental Care is situated in New Eltham, London, and provides NHS and private dental care services to patients of all ages.

The treatment rooms and the reception and waiting area are on the ground floor of the premises.

The practice had a 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.

We spoke with three patients who used the service on the day of our inspection and received 25 completed CQC comment cards. Patients we spoke with and those who completed comment cards told us they were happy with the care and treatment they received from the practice, that the staff had a positive attitude, and that the environment was well maintained.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including for infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.

• The practice carried out oral health assessments and planned treatment in line with current best practice guidance or example from the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP). Staff received training appropriate to their roles and told us they felt well supported to carry out their work.

• Patients told us they were treated with care and concern by staff. Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood. Patients commented they felt involved in their treatment and that it was fully explained to them.

• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed. There were clear instructions for patients regarding out of hours care.

• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us they felt well supported and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.

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

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society
• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols 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’.

People using the service we spoke with during our visit on 22 June 2012 told us they were very satisfied with the dental care they received. They told us their dentist explained their treatment options to them well, including any costs. One person said their dentist was very gentle and never caused any pain. People told us felt comfortable and safe in the practice and that the practice was always kept clean and tidy.