We carried out this announced inspection on 12 July 2018 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 Care Quality Commission (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

Old Kent Road Dental Studio is based in the London Borough of Southwark and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on the first and second floors of the premises and is accessed via stairs. There is restricted parking available near the practice.

The dental team includes a dentist, and a dental nurse who also undertakes receptionist duties. The practice has a treatment room.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the owner and 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 obtained feedback from 35 patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist and dental nurse. We checked practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm
• Saturday: by appointment

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well-maintained.
• 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.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• 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 had suitable information governance arrangements.
• The practice had infection control procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment which was mostly in line with current guidelines. However, they did not use rubber dam during root canal treatments.
• The dentist occasionally worked without the assistance of a dental nurse, which was not in line with current guidance.

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

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment, taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
• Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting, taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.