A BBC health watchdog investigation has uncovered ‘serious errors’ in the methodology and testing of calculations made by the Care Quality Commission in recent GP practice inspections. The results of these inspections were published a fortnight ago. The BMA is now calling for the entire banding system to be withdrawn, whilst the CQC is currently…

Almost every surgery in the UK is now ranked according to CQC criteria on quality of care, with the majority of practices falling into a ‘low concern’ category. The ratings system has been put in place to empower patients to make choices about their care provider and to increase a sense of shared accountability in…

Is your practice safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led? These are the key issues brand new CQC visits intend to reveal when their ‘new and improved’ inspections start this month. Yes, the CQC’s new inspection scheme is now live, and the body has pledged to inspect some 778 practices and out-of-hours services by the…

The CQC started regulating general practices last year, grading them on a four point scale: “outstanding”, “good”, “requires improvement” and “inadequate”. David Behan, the CQC’s CEO, explains that their objective is to make sure people receive “safe, effective, compassionate, and high-quality health and adult social care”. Behan points out that the CQC has made “radical…