We carried out this announced inspection on 25 October 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.

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

M Z INC Limited is located in Westminster and is a specialist periodontal and implant practice. The practice treats mainly adults.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs via a temporary ramp and lift. Car parking spaces, including some for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes one dentist, one dental nurse, three dental hygienists and a practice manager. The reception duties were undertaken by the building owners. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at M Z INC Limited was the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection we collected three CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with a dentist, a dental nurse, a hygienist and the practice manager.

The practice is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm.

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.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practices’ current Legionella risk assessment and implement the required actions taking into account guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and have regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’

People we spoke with rated the expertise of Dr Michael Zybutz very highly. They said that the treatment provided had had “dramatically improved their self confidence and quality of life.” People said that they had been putting off the treatment for several years but on meeting Dr Michael Zybutz they felt very confident in his care and proceeded with the treatment. They described the service as “very welcoming, run by warm professional people”.

Everyone we spoke with commented very positively on the environment and the high standards of cleanliness within the practice. People told us they valued having their care and treatment delivered by a group of “perfectionists”.