Dr Alec Waugh and Associates Dental Surgeons

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 12 April 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:

• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• 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.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements; however improvements were needed in relation to the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV).
• The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained; however improvements were needed to the storage arrangements of the cleaning equipment.

Improvements were needed to ensure:

• All written dental care records were stored securely.
• Facilities were safe and equipment was serviced and maintained according to manufacturers’ guidance.
• The systems in place to help the provider manage risks to patients and staff were ineffective. In particular, in relation to the management of dental sharps and fire safety.

Background

The provider has two practices and this report is about Dr Alec Waugh and Associates Dental Surgeons .

The practice is in Newcastle Upon Tyne and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice is located close to transport routes and car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, two dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses, one receptionist, one practice coordinator and the practice manager. The practice has five treatment rooms.

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

The practice is open:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8.30am to 5.30pm

Wednesdays from 8.30am to 5pm

Saturdays from 9am to 5pm

Lunch (everyday) from 1.15pm to 2pm

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

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

• Take action to ensure the clinicians carry out patient assessments and ensure they are in compliance with current legislation and take into account relevant nationally recognised evidence-based guidance.