We carried out this announced inspection on 29 June 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 area team that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.

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

Lewis Grove Dental Practice is in the London Borough of Lewisham and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There was level access into the practice, though the treatment rooms were on the first floor and access was via stairs. Pay and display car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, two dental nurses/receptionists, one dental nurse, one dental hygienist, and two part time practice managers. 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 14 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse and the practice managers. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30am -5:30pm

Wednesday 8:30am -6:pm

Alternate Saturdays for the dental hygienists and private patients between 8:30am-1pm

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.

We spoke with one person who used the service. They told us they were satisfied with the service and said staff “Explained everything clearly to me, I am a nervous patient and I feel reassured here”.

People received sufficient information about the services provided and their individual treatment options to enable them to understand their treatment options.

There were effective systems in place for the decontamination of instruments to reduce the risk of infection. The dental practice was visibly clean and provided a comfortable environment to receive treatment.

There were sufficient staff to provide care and treatment to people who were using the service. People were invited to give feedback about the service and this was used to inform changes and improvements.