We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 11 January 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

Southbank Dental Practice is a dental practice providing private treatment options for patients. The practice is located in premises in Broadstairs, Kent.

The practice has two treatment rooms, which are located on the ground floor.

The practice provides dental services to both adults and children. The practice provides private treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment. The practice has a dental payment plan or patients can pay as they go.

The practice’s opening hours are – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.30am to 5pm, Wednesday 8.30am to 7pm and Friday 8.30am to 12pm.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message or practice website.

The practice owner is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a registered manager. 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 has two dentists; two qualified dental nurses, two hygienists, a receptionist and a practice administrator.

We provided CQC comment cards prior to our inspection and reviewed feedback from 15 patients plus feedback that the practice had received through surveys, comments and complaints.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and tidy.

• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.

• Patients at the practice gave positive feedback about their experiences at the practice.

• The practice was well equipped.

• Dentists identified the different treatment options, and discussed these with patients.

• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.

• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control with regard to cleaning and sterilising dental instruments.

• The practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included an automated external defibrillator, oxygen and emergency medicines.