CQC look to reform its inspections and monitoring processes

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), as part of proposed changes to its regulation of health and social care, has made plans to overhaul its inspections.

The plans also look to improve the structure of registration, the CQC’s definition of ‘registered providers’ and an ‘updated approach’ to the fit and proper persons requirement. Doctors have eight weeks to put forward their proposals.

The CQC also proposes to find a new way to collect data, and to abolish the limit that prevents the CQC from amending ratings following inspection if the previous rating was given less than six months before.

Richard Vautrey, BMA GPs committee deputy chair, said: “Overall the regulatory burden on practices is unlikely to be reduced, with the planned reduction in the frequency of inspections being countered by the introduction of an annual submission of supporting information. The results of the first round of inspections confirmed what we already knew – that the vast majority of practices are delivering good quality care to their patients. Given the NHS is seriously struggling with its funding, it’s hugely wasteful to continue spending millions each year on a burdensome regulatory system that does little to support hard-working practices doing their best to care for their patients.”