The Dental Referral Centre

We carried out this announced inspection on 30 September 2019 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 provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

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

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

The Dental Referral Centre is in Dronfield, Sheffield and mainly provides a private dental referral service for endodontics, dental implants, periodontology and restorative dentistry. The service also provides routine private dental treatment to adults and children.

The practice is situated over four floors, access into the practice is via a small step; a ramp is available for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Patients who find the internal stairs difficult to manage would be referred to a nearby practice where there is step free ground floor access. Car parking is available locally via side streets and a pay and display car park.

The dental team includes the principal dentist and four associate dentists, seven dental nurses and a dental hygienist. The clinical team is supported by a practice manager, a clinical manager who is also a dental nurse and a dedicated receptionist. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at The Dental Referral Centre is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 29 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. All comments received were complimentary about the service provided.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, the receptionist, the practice manager and the clinical manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• Systems in place to manage external referrals were effective.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.