GP’s CQC fees to increase six-fold within two years

The funding works out to around £15,000 for some practices. In a consultation document, the CQC has suggested a set of significant fee increases that will result in providers covering the full costs of inspections. The first proposal calls on larger practices to pay £17,893 in 2017/18, compared with £2,681 this year.

The Department of Health (DoH) has said that it will put £15m into the GP contract for next year to cover most of the costs, and will review future years’ costs. However, the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) has issued concerns that the funding will not be enough to cover the huge increase in fees which could be the ‘final straw’ for some practices.

Earlier in the year it was announced that the CQC would move to a funding structure whereby providers would cover the full costs of inspections. Initially, it was presumed that this change would result in fees doubling, however, the consultation document shows that fees will increase almost six-fold.

Under the first proposal: small practices, with up to 5,000 patients, will see their fees increase from £616 to £2,187 in 2016/17, and £4,111 by 2017/18; single location practices with between 5,000 and 10,000 patients will see their fees increased from £725 this year to £2,574 next year, and £4,839 in 2017/18; practices with more than five locations will see their fees increased from £2,681 this year, to £9,518 and £17,893 in 2017/18.

Under the second proposal, the new fees are expected to be enabled incrementally by 2019-20. In addition, it will see fees for all practices almost double in the first year.

A DoH spokesperson said that it would insert £15m into the GP contract to aid practices with the rise of CQC fees.

They said: “'We want the NHS to be the safest health care service in the world and the CQC plays a vital role. We have always been clear that we expect the CQC to recover its costs through fees. These fees allow CQC’s tough inspection regime to drive up standards across the country and ultimately make sure patients get safe and compassionate care.”

Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chair of the GPC, said: “GPs will be outraged at the huge hike in fees that CQC are proposing – and at the same time they see very little value for what the CQC are actually doing, and yet they are the ones which will be footing the bill for it. If anything, practices which are really struggling and are under financial pressure, it could be the final straw which breaks the camel’s back.

“We need to see the full details of this proposed £15m investment from the Department of Health. Practices would have had promises of uplift to expenses over the recent years – and they’ve led to actual pay cuts rather than increases. So there are many other pressures on practices’ time and it is doubtful the investment from the Department would necessarily recompense practices from the unreasonable hike in CQC expenses.

“What we need to see is a real reduction in the CQC bureaucracy and costs – so their rise is not needed or necessary.”

In the foreword to the consultation document, interim chair Michael Mire and chief executive David Behan, said: “We do not underestimate the impact on providers of paying fees, and we will continue to look carefully at our costs relating to regulation. We have a responsibility to cover our costs by charging fees, but we are also accountable for demonstrating that we are fair, efficient, effective and proportionate.”

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