We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 08 March 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

St George’s Dental Practice is a practice located in the city of Canterbury and comprises of a reception and waiting room on the ground floor, four treatment rooms, one on the ground floor and three on the first floor, an office, storage and a staff area. The practice is accessible for patients with disabilities at the front entrance.

The practice provides general dental treatment to NHS patients of all ages.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 9am to 6.00pm, Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 1pm.

The practice is staffed by three dentists, a practice manager, a clinical manager, four dental nurses, one of whom is the senior nurse and three student nurses and two receptionists.

The head nurse 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.

Five people provided feedback on CQC comment cards about the services provided. Every comment was very positive about the staff and the service. Patients commented that the practice was clean, hygienic and modern and they found the staff friendly, considerate and caring. They had trust in the staff and confidence in the dental treatments and said that they were alwaysgiven clear, detailed and understandable explanations about dental treatment. Several patients commented that the dentists put patients at ease, have their patient’s best interests at heart and listen carefully.

Our key findings were:

• The practice recorded and analysed significant events, incidents and complaints and cascaded learning to staff.

• Staff had received safeguarding training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns.

• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.

• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies and emergency medicines and

equipment were readily available.

• Premises and equipment were clean, secure and properly maintained.

• Infection control procedures were in place and the practice followed published guidance.

• Staff were supported to deliver effective care and opportunities for training and learning were available.

• Clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development and met the requirements of their professional registration.

• Patient’s care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence-based guidelines and current practice and legislation.

• 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.

All of the patients with whom we spoke gave us positive feedback about the practice. All said that the quality of care was very high and that staff had the skills and experience to meet their needs and provide a good service. We ask a range of questions about the quality of the service provided and all comments made were very positive with no concerns raised.

Patients that we spoke with told us that they were encouraged to make independent decisions about their dental needs; and were offered a choice of treatment options and gave consent. One patient told us "Yes everything is explained". Another said "The dentist asks for consent to any treatment before it starts".

Patients we spoke with said "Yes I am very happy". One patient told us “I have been coming here for years, I am very happy".

Although the practice was clean there were no records to show that a risk assessment was in place to help ensure and maintain good standards of hygiene as required by the Health Technical Memoranda 01-05: Decontamination in primary dental care practices (HTM 01-05).

The practice enabled patients to give feedback following a consultation. Regular patient satisfaction feedback forms had also been collected and encouraged to be completed to enable the practice to monitor the quality of care. Regular health and safety audits and checks were also in place.

St George's Dental Practice provides general dentistry such as treating tooth decay and gum disease, restorative dentistry such as crowns and bridges and cosmetic dentistry including veneers and teeth whitening. The practice treated patients funded both by the NHS and privately. On the ground floor there was the reception lounge, a treatment room and patients' toilets. There were three more treatment rooms on the first floor access to which was by stairs. The practice is close the centre of Canterbury.