First of all, I should start this blog by announcing that actually I’m a real advocate of having a healthcare regulator, and having the CQC is a good thing. So, there it is… I’m now officially a social outcast and I await your abuse! Background to the Emergency Support Framework (ESF) It all started on

Warning! It’s now time to reset the answerphone message from “I’m out of the office indefinitely” to a more welcoming and possibly more professional version. Why? Well, the CQC is coming to a telephone near you! No need for mass hysteria, but the brow does become slightly wrinkled when we ponder what our colleagues at

While talk of CQC inspections has undoubtedly decreased over the last few months, in part due to the fact that most practices are onto second (and even third in some cases) visits or calls, inspections still remain a critical part of practice evaluation. That means, whether good, bad or downright ugly, inspection reports remain an

Cleaning standards and schedule How many times have you bumped into a new member of the cleaning team and they’ve looked… well, a little unsure about the job in hand? Even if they’re being supervised, the supervisor is also on a tight schedule and can’t watch them all the time… So, are you actually getting

Following the recent completion of their latest round of telephone-based CQC inspections, a pair of practice managers have kindly shared their top findings and handy hints to help other PMs better prepare for the ordeal. Grab a hot drink (or something stronger), settle down and buckle up… Be prepared. You have the questions in advance,

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or a veteran of general practice, there will be one three-letter abbreviation you’ll never forget, and that’s ‘CQC’. Now, the seasoned GP workforce knows that CQC stands for ‘Care Quality Commission’ and I’m certain we all have differing opinions of the CQC. However, for today, my views

There has been a wealth of information detailing the recent change for general practice to the CQC inspection procedures that came into force on 1st April 2019. This will affect those practices rated outstanding or good, which of course is the vast majority of you.  Whilst the formal inspection every five years will remain, to ensure