We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 3 May 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Street Dental practice is situated in Street, near the town centre, with easy access to parking. The practice provides general dentistry, including endodontics and restorative services, to NHS patients and private patients and fees are displayed on the practice website and in information leaflets available in the practice for patients. The practice has four treatment rooms, a waiting area and a decontamination room. All areas are on the ground floor with level access.

The practice has a practice manager who is also the 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.

The practice is open Monday 08:15 - 17:00, Tuesday 08:30 - 19:00, Wednesday and Thursday 08:15 - 17:00, Friday 08:30 - 17:00 and Saturday 08:30 - 14:30. For emergency and out of hour’s assistance contact information is available from the practice telephone answering service.

We reviewed 29 CQC comment cards that had been left for patients to complete, prior to our visit, about the services provided. In addition we spoke with two patients on the day of our inspection. Feedback from patients was positive about the care they received from the practice.

They commented staff put them at ease, listened to their concerns and provided an excellent service in which they had confidence in the dental care provided.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to help ensure the safety of staff and patients. These included safeguarding children and adults from abuse, maintaining the required standards of infection prevention and control and responding to medical emergencies.

• The dental practice had effective clinical governance and risk management processes in place; including health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.

• Premises were well maintained and a tour of the building confirmed that good cleaning and infection control systems were in place. The treatment rooms were well organised and equipped, with good light and ventilation.

• There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the air compressor, autoclave, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.

• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff who maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• Staff were up to date with current guidelines and the practice was led by a proactive principal dentist / provider.

• Staff were kind, caring, competent and put patients at their ease.

• Patients commented they felt involved in their treatment and that it was fully explained to them.

• Common themes from the CQC comment cards were patients felt they received excellent care in a clean environment from a helpful practice team.

During our inspection we spoke with five people who used the service, three out of the four dentists, three out of the four dental nurses and the hygienist. We looked at four treatment records of people who used the service. We also looked at how the practice cleaned and sterilised its dental instruments after they had been used by the dentist.

People we spoke with told us they were happy with the treatment provided. The majority of people told us that when they needed a course of treatment, this would be explained by the dentist clearly so they were clear of their options and the cost. Some comments people made about the service were; “the dentist is great, they do a good job”, “very good, you don’t feel the treatment, they have a good mannerism, it’s excellent here”. One person said the dentist could be better at explaining what they were about to do before treating them.

The practice manager had procedures in place to ensure vulnerable adults and children who used the service were protected from abuse. Staff were following appropriate infection control guidance to ensure people were protected from the risk of health care associated infections. Staff felt well supported to carry out their role and received appropriate training to enable them to deliver treatment safely to people.