We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 November 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 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

North Square Dental Practice located in Edmonton provides NHS and private dental treatment to patients of all ages.

Practice staffing consists of the principal dentist/Implantologist, six dentists, one hygienist, one orthodontist, five dental nurses, two receptionists and a practice manager.

The principal dentist is 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 to Friday 9am to 5.30pm and Saturdays 9am to 1pm

The practice facilities include five treatment rooms, a reception and waiting area for patients, a decontamination room and an office and kitchen area.

31 patients provided feedback about the service. Patients we spoke with and those who completed comment cards were very positive about the care they received about the service. Patients told us that they were happy with the treatment and advice they had received.

Our key findings were:

• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Dental instruments were cleaned and sterilised in line with current guidance.
• Staff had received safeguarding children and adults training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns. The practice had whistleblowing policies and procedure and staff were aware of these and their responsibilities to report any concerns.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• Equipment, such as the compressor, fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• The practice had a procedure for handling and responding to complaints, which were displayed and available to patients.
• Staff had been trained to handle medical emergencies, and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.
• Governance systems were effective and there were a range of policies and procedures in place which underpinned the management of the practice.

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

• Review the practice’s protocols for recording in the patients’ dental care records or elsewhere the reason for taking the X-ray and quality of the X-ray giving due regard to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) 2000.
• Review the protocol for completing accurate, complete and detailed records relating to employment of staff.

People expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. The three patients we spoke with told us they were happy with the service they received. One patient said, "the treatment is great." People’s needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. One patient said, "the dentist is professional and very helpful."

Patients we spoke with said they were confident in the staff and service provided. There were policies and procedures in place in relation to the safeguarding of adults and children. Patients told us that the clinic was always clean. The clinic appeared clean and well maintained. There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.