We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 December 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Dentiq Implant Clinic is a general dental practice in Eastbourne, East Sussex, offering private dental treatment to adults and children.

The practice is situated in the centre of Eastbourne. The practice has two dental treatment rooms, a decontamination room for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments, a consultation room, a waiting area and a reception area. The treatment rooms are located on the ground floor. The practice has full disabled access and there is a patient toilet on the ground floor.

The practice is open Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm. The practice can accommodate late evening and Saturday morning appointments when required.

Dentiq Implant Clinic has two dentists (one of whom is the registered manager), two dental nurses (both of whom also work on reception) and one hygienist. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Before the inspection we sent CQC comments cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We collected five completed cards. All of the comments cards provided a positive view of the service the practice provides. Patients commented that staff were welcoming, friendly and efficient. Patients wrote that they were treated with respect and care. One patient commented that the practice was bright and clean. We also spoke with two patients who were registered at the practice by telephone. Both patients were highly satisfied with the treatment and support they had received at the practice.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the steriliser, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.
• The practice had effective systems in place to gain the comments and views of people who used the service.
• Patients were highly satisfied with the treatment they received and were complimentary about staff at the practice.
• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD).
• We observed that staff showed a caring and attentive approach towards patients. All patients were recognised and greeted warmly on arrival at reception.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• Staff were proud of the practice and their team. Staff felt well supported and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.