Mermaid Dental Care - Crowborough

We saw that patient's views were taken into account in the way the service was provided and delivered. For example, we were shown records that demonstrated that the dentists had discussed treatment options with patients.

We found that the practice maintained patient records which included up to date medical histories, medical alerts and treatment plans. Staff told us that the dentist or hygienist would verbally check the medical history at each treatment visit. The records demonstrated that dentist and hygienist got consent from patients before they started any treatment.

We saw that the practice had appropriate systems in place to manage medical emergencies. We saw evidence that equipment was routinely serviced and maintained.

We saw documentation which confirmed that all relevant staff employed by the service held current registrations with their professional body the General Dental Council (GDC). We also saw documents which confirmed that the practice held checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for all staff. This meant that the service had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening.

We saw that overall the premises were visibly clean and tidy. Staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about decontamination and sterilisation processes they used. One patient we spoke with said "The practice is always clean and tidy and all the staff are very professional and friendly.'

You can see our judgements on the front page of this report.