We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 May 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

West End Smile Centre Limited, also known as Quality and Caring Dentistry, is a dental practice providing NHS and private treatment for both adults and children. The practice is situated in a village north of Southampton, Hampshire.

The practice has two dental treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room used for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments.

The practice is based on the ground floor of an adapted domestic dwelling.

The practice employs three dentists, two hygienists, two dental nurses of which one also covers reception duties, a second receptionist and a practice manager.

The practice’s opening hours are between 9am and 5pm Monday and Wednesday, 8.30am and 5.30pm Tuesday and Thursday and 9am and 3pm on Friday.

There are arrangements in place to ensure patients receive urgent medical assistance when the practice is closed. This is provided by an out-of-hours service.

Dr Anshu Sood is registered as an individual and is legally responsible for making sure that the practice meets the requirements relating to safety and quality of care, as specified in the regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

During our inspection we reviewed 16 CQC comment cards completed by patients and obtained the views of seven patients on the day of our inspection.

Our key findings were:

• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.

• Strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist who was supported by an empowered practice manager.

• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.

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

• The practice had a safeguarding lead with effective processes in place for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• There was a process in place for the reporting and shared learning when untoward incidents occurred in the practice.

• Dentists provided dental care in accordance with current professional and National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run.

• Patients could access treatment and urgent and emergency care when required.

• Staff recruitment files were organised and complete.

• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD) by the principal dentist.

• Staff we spoke with felt well supported by the principal dentist and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.

• Information from 16 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave us a positive picture of a friendly, caring, professional and high quality service.