We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 February 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

The Lund Dental Practice is located in Hull and provides NHS treatment to children and private treatment to adults.

Wheelchair users or pushchairs can access the practice through step free access. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team is comprised of three dentists, five dental nurses and two receptionists.

The practice has a reception area, two surgeries with their own waiting room on each floor, a decontamination room, patient toilets, a staff room/kitchen and a general office/storage area.

On the day of inspection we received positive feedback from 149 patients about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice.

The practice is open:

Monday –Thursday 9am -5pm

Friday 8am – 4pm

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 appeared clean, secure and well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance.
• Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available in accordance with current guidelines. Staff had not been trained within the past 12 months to handle medical emergencies.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising instruments.
• Staff understood and received safeguarding training and knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Treatment was well planned and provided in line with current guidelines.
• Patients received information about their care, 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.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• Complaints were responded to in an efficient and responsive manner.

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

• Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and through the Central Alerting System (CAS), as well as from other relevant bodies such as, Public Health England (PHE).

• Review and implement a practice recruitment policy and procedures are suitable and the recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held.
• Review and implement an effective system to assess, monitor and mitigate the various risks arising from undertaking of the regulated activities including implementing the actions from the fire risk assessment.
• Review and implement a system for prescription pads to monitor and track their use.

We spoke with people who used the service whilst they were waiting to see the dentist. They told us consent forms were completed prior to any treatment. People commented, "The dentist is excellent", "The staff are all very professional" and "The treatment is always discussed with me and I know exactly what to expect."

People who used the service told us they had been fully informed of their treatment options and had received a plan that explained what treatment would be carried out. They told us that the dentist and staff were both polite and courteous throughout their treatment. Comments included; "It's a brilliant dentist, I'm particularly satisfied with the care and attention given", "They do everything they can to make sure patients feel happy and well treated" and "Yes I saw my treatment plan and I signed it."

People spoken with told us they thought the dental surgery was clean and hygienic. They commented, "It is always clean" and "I have seen the nurses cleaning down the chair as I leave the room." People also confirmed that personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, glasses and gloves had been worn by staff.