Colchester Orthodontic Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Person-centred Care is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Care provision, Integration and continuity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Providing Information is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Listening to and involving people is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

Leaders described the reasonable adjustments they had made to ensure the practice was accessible. The practice was wheelchair accessible with level access to the ground floor, a ground floor treatment room and fully accessible toilet with an emergency pull cord also on the ground floor. Large print documents were available, but the practice was moving towards sending patients information digitally and on screen information provided for patients in the treatment coordinators room. A magnifying glass, language translation and a hearing induction loop were also available. Parking was available on the practice forecourt. Staff were clear about the importance of providing emotional support to patients when delivering care. For example, patient comments included; ‘Spoke to my child in a manner they understood exactly about their treatment,’ and ‘My child and I were treated with respect and dignity, explained everything and checked we understood’.

Staff had carried out a disability access audit and had formulated an action plan to continually improve access for patients. The practice supported more vulnerable members of society such as patients living with dementia or adults and children with a learning disability. The practice displayed its opening hours and provided information on their website, social media pages and within the practice. The frequency of appointments was agreed between the orthodontist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The practice provided telephone numbers for patients needing emergency dental treatment during the working day and when the practice was not open. At the time of our assessment, patients who needed an urgent appointment were offered one in a timely manner. When the practice was unable to offer an urgent appointment, they worked with partner organisations to support urgent access for patients.

The judgement for Equity in experiences and outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Planning for the future is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.