
How staffing levels can affect your CQC inspection rating
A recent poll by GP Online found that four in five GP partners said that their practice had been unable to recruit a locum doctor

Warning Notices – How to Turn a Threat Around
So you see it pop into your inbox – an email from the Care Quality Commission (“CQC”) issuing a Warning Notice for breach of regulations.

The CQC – An Aggressive Prosecutor
It is becoming clear that the senior management of the CQC has developed a change of policy for providers which is to stigmatise and punish

Treat interactions with regulators with care
I have worked with many healthcare providers who can be described at times as adopting a collaborative approach when interacting with regulators. This can of

Receiving and acting on complaints – Could the CQC be due some self-reflection?
An effective complaints system is a key component to ensuring openness and transparency as well as encouraging internal insight within an organisation. In the health

The Two Biggest Challenges for Social Care Providers
In my 13 years at Ridouts there isn’t much I haven’t seen in terms of regulatory and operational challenges in the health and social care

Low Patient satisfaction could lead to increase in complaints and CQC inspections
Earlier this year the British Social Attitudes (“BSA”) survey found that public satisfaction with GP services had hit its lowest point since the survey first

Care providers can influence fair fee rates – Seize the opportunity
The Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) published statutory guidance on 24 March 2022. Local Authorities (“LAs”) are required to report to DHSC on

New Rules for Living with COVID-19
As of 1 April 2022 all previous legally binding obligations in relation to COVID-19 have been lifted. Since the Government announced that moving forward the

Section 30: What a difference a day makes
At Ridouts we assist providers with all manner of regulatory enforcement action. Much of what we are instructed to challenge falls on the lower to

What does the CQC’s new approach to regulation means for GPs?
The CQC is in the process of developing the way in which it regulates GPs. There will be a move to a dynamic assessment of

One year on: How is CQC’s regulatory model working in practice and what will change?
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and social care landscape has changed dramatically including in relation to the way in which the