Archived: SimplyTeeth - Stanford le Hope

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 26 November 2015 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

Simply Teeth – Stanford Le Hope provides NHS and some private dental services to patients of all ages. The practice is located in a residential area in Corringham, Stanford Le Hope in Essex. The premises are situated on the ground floor of a residential style building. The services provided include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice is managed by one dentist who is supported by two associate dentists, three dental nurses, two receptionists and a practice manager. 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 is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 6pm and appointments are available between 9am and 5pm.

We spoke with two patients who used the service on the day of inspection and reviewed 30 completed CQC comment cards. Patients we spoke with and those who completed comment cards told us that they were very happy with the care they received from the practice. Patients told us that staff were very professional and helpful. They said that they could get appointments at times that suited them, including same day appointments for urgent dental treatments. They told us that dentists, dental nurses and receptionists were always polite and caring and that they supported nervous and anxious patients. Patients said that the dentists explained treatments in a way that they could understand, listened to them and answered any questions they had about their care and treatment. A number of patients who completed comment cards said that they had recommended the dental practice to their friends and families.

Our key findings were:

• The practice investigated significant and safety events and cascaded learning to staff. These events were analysed and monitored to help improve patient safety.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We found all treatment rooms and equipment appeared clean. Dental instruments were cleaned and sterilised in line with current guidance. Infection control audits were carried out to test the effectiveness of cleaning and infection control practices.
• There were systems in place to ensure that all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the suction compressor, autoclave, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.
• Staff had received safeguarding children and adults training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns. The practice had whistleblowing policies and procedures in place and staff were aware of these and their responsibilities to report any concerns.
• Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current legislation including National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• The practice ensured staff were trained and that they maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to handle medical emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.
• 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.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• The practice had a procedure for handling and responding to complaints. However this procedure was not displayed or made available to patients and those we spoke with confirmed that they were not aware of the complaints process at the practice. The principal dentist told us that no complaints had been received about the service within the previous two years. Following our inspection they introduced a patient leaflet which described how patients may raise concerns and how these would be dealt with and responded to.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt valued, involved and worked as a team. Staff meetings were routinely held to help share information and learning. Both dentist partners were very ‘hands on’ and carried out regular audits and took lead roles in the management and day to day running of the practice.
• Governance systems were effective and there were a range of policies and procedures in place which underpinned the management of the practice. Clinical and non-clinical audits were carried out to monitor the quality of services.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided and acted on this to improve its services.