We carried out this announced inspection on 8 August 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 had access to a specialist dental adviser remotely.

We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. NHS England provided us with information about the contract they held with the practice. Healthwatch 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

Marlborough Dental Centre is in the coastal town of Ilfracombe and provides NHS (and a small amount of private) treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two partners who are registered dentists, four other dentists, four dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, two dental hygienists, a practice manager and two receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Marlborough Dental Centre was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 22 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with one of the partners, one dentist, two dental nurses, the practice manager and two receptionists. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm (closed for lunch 1pm – 2pm) and Friday 8:30am – 2:30pm.

The practice also holds a small NHS domiciliary contract for house bound patients.

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.