We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 25 April 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

Village Dental Surgery has two dentists who own the practice, an associate dentist and a foundation dentist, three qualified dental nurses who are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), two apprentice dental nurses, a hygienist, a compliance manager and a receptionist. The practice’s opening hours are 9am to 5.30pm on Monday to Friday.

Village Dental Surgery provides NHS and private dental treatment for adults and children. The practice has three dental treatment rooms; one on the ground floor and two on the first floor. There is a separate decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments. There is also a reception and two waiting areas.

The registered manager was present during this inspection. 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comments cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice and during the inspection we spoke with patients. We received feedback from 48 patients who provided an overwhelmingly positive view of the services the practice provides. All of the patients commented that the quality of care was very good.

Our key findings were

• Systems were in place for the recording and learning from significant events and accidents.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were in place. The practice were completing their own infection prevention and control audits, however Infection Prevention Society (IPS) infection prevention and control audits were not being undertaken on a six monthly basis.  The Department of Health’s guidance on decontamination (HTM 01-05) recommends the use of IPS self-assessment audits every six months. Following this inspection we received confirmation that these audits would be completed on a six monthly basis.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• The provider had emergency medicines in line with the British National Formulary (BNF) guidance for medical emergencies in dental practice.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and worked as a team.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• We received positive feedback from patients. Patients felt they received a good service from dental staff that they trusted; they felt involved in their care and said that staff were attentive and friendly.