Interim Message During Covid 19
During the current Covid 19 pandemic there are some alterations to the process. It is recognised that General Practice is under intense pressure and therefore routine inspections have been paused. However, the regulatory role and core purpose of keeping people safe has not changed – safety is still the priority. Therefore, an emergency support framework has been developed for use during the pandemic.
This emergency approach will be used in all health and social care settings registered with CQC during the pandemic, and for a period afterwards.
The emergency support framework is not an inspection, and your performance will not be rated.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of all health and adult social care in England. It came into being on 1st April 2009 bringing together the responsibilities of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Mental Health Act Commission and the Healthcare Commission.
From 1 April 2013, NHS general practice and other primary medical services that provide a regulated activity need to be registered with CQC. Practices need to keep their registration details up to date. You need to notify CQC of any changes to partnerships and registered managers by accessing the Provider Portal.
Their goal is to ensure that the regulations are met across the sector for the benefit of patients and professionals. This will be achieved by focusing on the five key questions the inspectors ask of the services:
- Are they safe?
- Are they effective?
- Are they caring?
- Are they responsive?
- Are they well-led?
CQC will check that you meet the regulations on an ongoing basis and will provide you with one of four ratings: ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’, or ‘inadequate’.
On the inspection day, inspectors will spend most of their time talking to your patients and staff and, where established, members of your Patient Participation Group. Wherever possible they will observe the interaction of staff and patients (for example in the reception area).
They will also draw on other expertise where necessary, including experts in primary medical care such as GPs, practice nurses and practice managers.
Inspectors will use information from other sources, including the experiences of care that patients and people have told them about, local involvement networks and speak out groups, whistleblowers and other regulators.
LMC have produced several guidance documents on compliance of the regulations; these and many others can be found in our library or on the CQC website.
Contact details for LMC CQC lead in the office:
Related Library Documents
The LMC will identify and store all relevant legislation, guidance, policies and procedures relating to General Practice and provide clarification to practices on matters relating to them. This will include both local and national documentation. Examples include; CQC registration, GMS/PMS contract regulations and Appraisal and Revalidation policies and procedures.