- Dentist
Bewbush Dental Practice Also known as South Cliff Dental Group Crawley
Assessment report published 22 February 2026
Contents
Judgements
Our view of the service
We carried out this unannounced, on-site inspection on 20 August 2025.
We found the practice had not met all regulations.
Infection control procedures in place were ineffective.
The practice had ineffective systems to identify and manage risks.
There was ineffective leadership to support a culture of continuous improvement.
Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance.
Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our inspection, could access care, support and treatment when required.
Bewbush Dental Practice is part of Southcliff Dental, a dental group provider. The practice is in Crawley, Kent and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There was step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces available, including dedicated parking for disabled people, near the practice.
The practice had 4 treatment rooms.At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 17 staff, of which there were 2 dentists, 4 dental therapists, 7 trainee dental nurses, 3 receptionists and the practice manager.
We spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 1 dentist, 3 trainee dental nurses, 1 dental therapist, 2 receptionists and the practice manager. We also spoke with the groups clinical lead and the compliance manager.
The provider was not complying with Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: 15 - Premises and equipment, 17 – Good governance.
Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are within the inspection findings below.
Whilst there areissues to be addressed, the impact of our concerns relates to the governance and the oversight of the risks, rather than a patient safety risk.
In instances where CQC have decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.
People's experience of this service
As this inspection was unannounced, we did not request any patient feedback. We reviewed feedback from patients who had contacted us within the previous 12 months. We also reviewed online feedback comments.
Patient feedback provided a mixed view of the dental team and care provided by the practice.
Patients commented on the caring nature of the dentists and were over all happy with the standard of treatment they received. However, the majority of patients felt that there had been a decline in the practice in previous months. They were unable to book appointments within an acceptable timescale. Numerous patients commented that their appointments were cancelled at short notice. Patients also commented they could not get through to the practice, and that the telephone was routinely not answered.
We were told improvements were being made to the way in which patient feedback was reviewed and where area for improvements were identified, appropriate action would be taken.