CQC gives dentistry an excellent report
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- Published: Wednesday, 19 October 2016 06:21
- Written by News Editor
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The latest CQC report shows dental services in England topping the league in providing high quality care. Of the dental practices inspected in 2015/16, the CQC found that 100% met the tests for ‘caring’ and treating people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect; and 99% were found to be ‘responsive’ to their patients’ needs and preferences and ‘effective’ in achieving good health outcomes.
Community dental services were also found to be offering the highest quality of care all the community services, with 86% achieving a rating of good or outstanding, compared with 70% for the other three core community services.
The regulator confirmed once again that dental practices, compared to other sectors, present a lower risk to patient safety. In April 2015, this low risk prompted the CQC to move to a model of inspecting just 10 per cent of all practices each year.
Mick Armstrong, Chair of the BDA, said: “There are huge challenges facing the dental profession but in spite of these the CQC provides proof – if that were needed – that we remain the most efficient, trusted and compliant of healthcare sectors. All dentists can be proud that we are defining ourselves as a caring and responsive service. This shows the commitment we have to our patients, and to our ideals of professionalism and responsibility. It’s also a reminder why the CQC’s approach to dental inspections was the right choice.
“Colleagues continue to provide an excellent, committed service, despite a 35 per cent drop in taxable income over the last decade, and without a penny of government investment. Dentists are subsidising this high quality care from their own pockets. In the long term this situation is unsustainable – yet how can a profession starved of investment meet the increasing expectations of care quality if the government refuses to recognise this? Dentists are delivering high quality preventative oral health, education and maintenance but this cannot be maintained on good will alone.”
Key findings:
- Out of 967 dental care inspections conducted by the CQC:
- 100% of practices were found to be caring, where staff involve and treat people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- 99% responsive, where services are organised so that they meet people's needs.
- 91% well lead where leadership, management and governance of the organisation assures the delivery of high-quality person-centred care, supports learning and innovation, and promotes an open and fair culture.
- 95% safe, where people are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
- 99% effective, where care, treatment and support achieves good outcomes, promotes a good quality of life and is based on the best available evidence.
- 874 (90%) required no action, and just eight (1%) required enforcement action.
- Community dental services were found to be offering the highest quality of care in the community services, with five services out of 29 (17%) achieving an outstanding rating and 20 (69%) achieving a rating of good. The quality of care for other three core community services was 70% of services being given a rating of good or outstanding.
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