Bridge Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Person-centred Care is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Care provision, Integration and continuity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Providing Information is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Listening to and involving people is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

Leaders and staff described the reasonable adjustments they had made to ensure the practice was accessible. This included step free access to the practice, a ground floor reception, waiting area, treatment rooms and disabled access patient toilet. Patients had access to Clinipads for completion of medical history or consent forms; to assist visually impaired patients information on Clinipads could be enlarged and a magnifying glass was available. The practice did not have a hearing induction loop. Staff discussed the ways in which they communicated with patients who had a hearing difficulty. We were told that there was no access to language translation or sign language. Some staff at the practice could communicate with patients who spoke Punjabi. An online translation application was currently being used to translate written information. There was a passenger lift to gain access to the first floor of the building but this was not working on the day of assessment and we have been subsequently informed that this lift is permanently out of operation. We were told that patients who were unable to access the first floor of the building would be seen in the ground floor treatment rooms. Staff were clear about the importance of providing emotional support to patients when delivering care.

Staff had carried out a disability access audit and had formulated an action plan to continually improve access for patients. The practice supported more vulnerable members of society such as patients living with dementia or adults and children with a learning disability. The practice displayed its opening hours and provided information on their website patient information leaflet and social media page. The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The practice provided telephone numbers for patients needing emergency dental treatment during the working day and when the practice was not open. At the time of our assessment, patients who needed an urgent appointment were offered one in a timely manner. When the practice was unable to offer an urgent appointment, they worked with partner organisations to support urgent access for patients.

The judgement for Equity in experiences and outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Planning for the future is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.