Bewbush Dental Practice Also known as South Cliff Dental Group Crawley

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We found this practice was not providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We will be following up on our concerns to ensure they have been put right by the provider. The impact of our concerns, in terms of the safety of clinical care, is minor for patients using the service. Once the shortcomings have been put right the likelihood of them occurring in the future is low.

During our inspection of this key question, we found concerns related to

the safety of the premises and equipment

the infection prevention and control standards not being followed at the practice

These concerns were in breach of Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can find more details of our concerns in the detailed findings below.

Whilst there are issues to be addressed, the impact of our concerns relates to the governance and the oversight of the risks, rather than a patient safety risk.

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

The judgement for Learning culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe systems, pathways and transitions is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safeguarding is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Involving people to manage risks is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The provider had ineffective processes to identify and manage risks in relation to premises and fire safety. In 2024 a fixed electrical installation report identified a number of areas which required improvement. At the time of our inspection the improvements identified had not been acted on.

The management of fire safety was ineffective. Areas for improvement identified in the fire safety risk assessment had not been addressed. These included a lack of fire alarms, smoke detectors and emergency lighting systems. There were no arrangements to assess and mitigate these risks. Records showed that the fire extinguishers were last tested in 2022.

There were no records in relation to fire safety checks or records of fire evacuation drills.

Emergency equipment and medicines were not available or checked in accordance with national guidance. Medicines to treat low blood sugar and angina were not available. Some oxygen masks were not available. A number of medicines and equipment were past their expiry dates. The missing and expired items were re-ordered and available shortly after our inspection visit.

Staff would benefit from improved training and supervision so that they know how to respond to a medical emergency. Staff had completed online training in emergency resuscitation and basic life support within the previous 12 months. However, some staff who we spoke with lacked an understanding of the practice medical emergency procedures.

There were ineffective systems to ensure the servicing and validation of equipment in line with manufacturer’s instructions. There were no records available for testing and servicing for the sterilising equipment. The last service record for the compressor was dated January 2024, and the record for the air conditioning test was dated 2014.

Hazardous substances were clearly labelled and stored safely. Improvements were needed so that risk assessments were completed for hazardous substances used in the practice.

The practice had systems for appropriate and safe management of medicines. Improvements were needed to the storage and security of NHS prescriptions to minimise the risk of misuse.

The practice had arrangements to ensure the safety of the X-ray equipment and the required radiation protection information was available.

The practice had a recruitment policy and procedures that reflected relevant legislation, to help them employ suitable staff.

The practice ensured clinical staff were qualified, registered with the General Dental Council and had appropriate professional indemnity cover.

The practice had arrangements to ensure staff training, including continuing professional development, was up-to-date and reviewed at the required intervals.

Staff were aware of how safeguarding information could be accessed. Staff knew how to escalate safeguarding concerns within the practice and externally.

Improvements were needed to the arrangements for staff induction, monitoring and supporting staff to ensure they had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. Some staff who we spoke with lacked awareness of practice procedures and there were a lack of clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

The practice had ineffective infection prevention and control procedures. Staff received training in infection prevention. However, some staff we spoke with could not demonstrate that they understood their roles or the practice procedures, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment, observations of zoning and the decontamination of used dental instruments.

The equipment in use was not maintained, serviced or tested as per manufacturers’ instructions.

Improvements were needed to the practice procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems. There were no arrangements to clean and service the hot water tank. There were ineffective arrangements to monitor water temperatures as part of a system to reduce risks

The practice could not demonstrate that infection prevention and control audits were carried out as part of systems to monitor and improve procedures.

The practice had protocols to ensure effective cleaning and safe segregation and disposal of hazardous waste.

The judgement for Medicines optimisation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.