Archived: Cavendish Dental Care

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 February 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

Cavendish Dental care is situated over two floors of a building close to Chesterfield town centre in the West Bars area. The practice was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September 2011. The practice provides dental services to both NHS and private patients, with approximately 40% receiving NHS dental treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are: Monday: 8:30 am to 5 pm; Tuesday to Thursday: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; and Friday 9 am to 5 pm. The practice is closed at the weekend.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by ringing the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message. Alternatively patients should ring the 111 telephone number for access to the NHS emergency dental service.

One of the dentists who is a partner in the practice is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 has five dentists; one hygienist; one therapist; eight dental nurses and two practice managers. Dental nurses also work on the reception desk

We received positive feedback from 12 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients spoke positively about the dental services provided and said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• There were systems and processes to record accidents, significant events and complaints, and where learning points were identified these were shared with staff.
• There was a whistleblowing policy and procedures, and staff were aware of these procedures and how to use them. All staff had access to the whistleblowing policy.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had the necessary equipment to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included oxygen and emergency medicines.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Policies and procedures at the practice were kept under review.
• Dentists involved patients in discussions about the care and treatment on offer at the practice. Patient recall intervals were in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
• Treatment options were identified, explored and discussed with patients.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review it’s responsibilities as regards to the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and, ensure all documentation is up to date and staff understand how to minimise risks associated with the use of and handling of these substances.

• Consider retaining a copy of the patient satisfaction survey and the analysis completed by foundation dentists to provide evidence of seeking and acting on feedback from patients, the public and staff

• Review the current legionella risk assessment and implement the required actions including the monitoring and recording of water temperatures, giving due regard to the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance