We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 30 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

The Beeches dental practice is situated in Acomb, York, North Yorkshire. The practice has five treatment rooms all on the ground floor, a waiting area, a reception area, a decontamination room, staff facilities and a separate room for the Orthopantomogram (OPT) machine (an OPT machine is a panoramic scanning dental X-ray of the upper and lower jaw).

There is a portable ramp for patients with mobility requirements and reasonable adjustments have been made to accommodate wheelchair users.

There are three Dentists (two principal Dentists and an associate), three Dental Hygienists, a practice manager, a receptionist and five dental nurses (one of which is a trainee).

The practice offers a range of private dental treatments including preventative advice, routine restorative dental care and the practice provides NHS orthodontic care.

The practice is open:

Monday - Thursday 08:40 – 17:30.

Friday 08:40 – 17:00.

One of the principal dentists 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.

On the day of inspection we received 21 CQC comment cards providing feedback and spoke with two patients. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be excellent, attentive, kind, helpful, and empathetic. People told us they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had very good systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• 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 was a complaints system in place. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services.