Spalding dental surgery ordered to take action after 'not providing safe care'

A dental surgery that was found storing emergency medicine alongside food has been ordered to take action after inspectors deemed the practice was 'not providing safe care'.

Following a visit on December 15, the Care Quality Commision highlighted a number of issues at Dr Baber Khan - The Crescent in Spalding.

These included failing to ensure equipment was safe, a unsatisfactory electrical system and no evidence of staff completing emergency resuscitation training.

Inspectors even found glucagon injection - an emergency medicine which treats low blood sugar in diabetes patients - stored with food in a domestic fridge, while fridge temperatures were not recorded to ensure the temperature remained within recommended levels for safe storage of the medicine.

"The provider did not ensure facilities and equipment were safe, and that equipment was maintained according to manufacturers’ instructions, including electrical and gas appliances," the report stated.

"A satisfactory five-year electrical safety certificate and evidence of maintenance of gas appliances were not available.

"Recommended urgent remedial work had not been carried out on the practice’s electrical system."

A previous inspection in September 2021 revealed an electrical safety certificate dated April 27, 2018 had rated the system as unsatisfactory, with immediate action required.

"We did not see any evidence that these were addressed," the report continued.

"At this inspection we saw the provider had obtained a second report produced on June 8, 2022 and that this had also rated the system as unsatisfactory... 18 defects were identified.

"We did not see evidence that action was taken to address these defects. The provider informed us they were unaware any action was required."

The report added that emergency equipment and medicines were 'not always available and checked as described in recognised guidance' while inspectors found 'glucagon injection stored with food in a domestic fridge'.

Inspectors added that services were not well-led, not complying with relevant regulations and that action suggested following the 2021 report had led to 'limited improvements'

"Evidence was not available to confirm that staff had completed training in emergency resuscitation and basic life support every year," the report added.

"The provider had not implemented systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety. In particular relating to fire safety, and dental dam use in root canal treatments."

The report added that 'fire exits were not easily accessible and evidence of maintenance of the fire alarm system was not provided'.

It continued: "The provider confirmed to us they did not use dental dam or any other form of patient airway management when carrying out root canal treatments or other procedures where this would be required.

"The provider did not have appropriate quality assurance processes to encourage learning and continuous improvement.

"There was no evidence that audits of disability access, dental care records, radiographs, and infection prevention and control were undertaken in accordance with current guidance and legislation."

The practice has been given a list of enforcement actions to undertake.

Inspectors did find the provider had made improvements with 'procedures to reduce the possibility of Legionella or other bacteria developing in water systems, in line with a risk assessment' since their last visit.