The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Leigh Dental Practice Also known as New River Dental

325 Willow Road, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 3BX (020) 8363 0902

Provided and run by:
Leigh Dental Practice Limited

All Inspections

11 July 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 11 July 2022 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

  • The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. However, improvements were needed to ensure that all members of staff received safeguarding training that was relevant and at the suitable level for their role.
  • Improvements were needed to ensure that all recruitment checks had been carried out, including satisfactory evidence of conduct in previous employment.

Background

Leigh Dental Practice is in Enfield Town, in the London Borough of Enfield and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available on site.

The dental team includes a principal dentist, four associate dentists, one qualified dental nurse, two trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one clinical dental technician, two receptionists and the practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and the qualified dental nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Ensure that all members of staff, including trainee dental nurses, receive safeguarding training that is relevant and at a suitable level for their role.
  • Improve the practice`s recruitment policy and procedures to ensure that the necessary recruitment checks are carried out.

19 December 2013

During a routine inspection

When we inspected on 23 October 2013, we saw that a washer disinfector was used as part of the process of decontaminating (i.e. cleaning and sterilising) dental instruments. However, the provider was unable to evidence that the washer disinfector had been validated, tested, maintained or serviced. We asked the provider to take action.

Shortly after our October 2013 inspection, we were advised that the washer disinfector had been taken out of service and when we inspected again on 19 December 2013, we were advised that the washer disinfector was now not used as part of the decontamination process. We saw that the provider's other decontamination equipment had been serviced within the last 12 months and that records were kept of their daily and weekly tests. There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.

23 October 2013

During a routine inspection

Patients were able to discuss treatment, medical history, fees and other matters in private. This ensured that patient privacy was respected. We spoke with two patients - both of whom told us that staff treated them with dignity and respect. For example, one patient remarked that, 'the receptionist is very welcoming.'

Patients we spoke with were positive about the quality of care and treatment received. One patient told us that the dentist was,'very good' whilst the other patient remarked that the dentist was 'attentive and creative in his [treatment option] ideas.'

Staff we spoke with demonstrated an understanding of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. They were able to describe possible types of abuse such as physical abuse and dental neglect. They were able to explain how, and to whom, they would report a safeguarding alert.

The provider had a dedicated room for cleaning and sterilising dental instruments. Staff could explain the process to be followed to ensure that dental instruments were properly cleaned and sterilised. However, the provider was unable to evidence that a washer disinfector used to clean dental instruments had been validated, tested, maintained or serviced as referenced in Department of Health guidance.

The provider told us that patient consent forms were obtained for new courses of treatment. We were also told that patient medical history questionnaires were updated at each visit, as necessary.