We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 February 2017 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.

Background

Mobberley Road Dental Practice is located in a residential suburb close to the centre of Knutsford and comprises a reception and waiting room, three treatment rooms, a decontamination room and patient toilet facilities. The practice is located at first floor level and accessed via an external flight of steps. Handrails have been installed at both sides of the steps. Parking is available outside the practice. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities and limited mobility but not to wheelchair users.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm. The practice is staffed by a principal dentist, a practice manager, two associate dentists, a dental hygiene/ therapist, five dental nurses, one of whom is also a receptionist, and two receptionists.

The practice was recently redesigned and redecorated.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission, (CQC), as an individual. 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 received feedback from 23 people during the inspection about the services provided, and three people provided feedback via the Share your Experience facility on the CQC website. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent and well organised, and that staff were professional, friendly, and caring. They said the dentists listened to them and they were always given good and helpful explanations about dental treatment. Patients commented that the practice was clean and comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record, analyse and learn from significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating instruments.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current standards and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.

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

• Ensure the practice’s infection control procedures are suitable having 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’, specifically in relation to the frequency of infection control audits, and the recording of every cycle of the sterilisers.
• Review the security of NHS prescription pads and ensure there are systems in place to monitor and track their use.
• Review the practice’s complaint handling procedure to ensure it is sufficiently detailed.