Over the last two years, many have predicted that there would be an upsurge in GP complaints, owing to the changes in working practices to cope with COVID-19. This article explores what primary medical service providers can do to strengthen their complaints processes with the aim of avoiding falling foul of Regulations 16 and 17 …
How does the CQC expect practices to handle complaints? Read More »
Under the CQC’s current approach to focusing inspection activity where they deem there to be a risk, GP practices can expect to start experiencing more negative on-site inspections than they might have been used to, and enforcement activity could become more common. The CQC has various powers of enforcement but one of the most draconian …
By now GP practices will be used to the familiar feeling of the arrival of a team of CQC inspectors. A nervous couple of days will follow where every aspect of the practice is run over with a fine tooth comb. Data will be scrutinised, patient experience analysed and key staff members interviewed. The inspection …
Practice makes perfect: How to manage CQC inspections Read More »
The latest NHS announcement published on the 14th October 2021 placed a greater emphasis on the need for improving access for patients and supporting general practice with a £250m winter access fund to aid in the forthcoming November to March months. However, in a news article published the same day by the Royal College of …
Focus on access ignores the other fundamental challenges that GP’s in the UK are facing Read More »
The CQC’s focus on ‘Smarter Regulation’ in its new strategy includes a risk-based model of inspection. This model could lead to a much greater focus on GP practices that are perceived as ‘risky’ by the CQC, which could in turn lead to an increase in enforcement action. At Ridouts, we are already seeing an increase …
What happens if the CQC wants to vary a practice’s conditions of registration? Read More »
Challenging the CQC can be a daunting prospect for GP practices, especially given that the GPs and their practice managers are so busy. Interactions with the CQC can be laborious and require focus to address and respond to the plethora of enforcement action the regulator has at its disposal. However, it is important that practices …
The inspector’s call is very different now to what it was pre-COVID. Gone are the days when CQC inspectors turned up at the door and spent the day, or a couple of days, looking at various aspects of a service. It has now become the norm for the CQC to carry out the majority of …
An Inspector Calls – Challenges of remote inspections Read More »
At Ridouts, we are seeing an increase in the use of ‘letters of intent’ as the CQC moves away from timetabled inspections towards a more risk based approach. A letter of intent indicates that the CQC has concerns about a service. The will say that the regulator is considering whether to use its powers pursuant …
What does it take to achieve an Outstanding rating in General Practice? Given that the existing quality of General Practice (GP) care in this country is high, with 5% of GP services rated as Outstanding, followed by 90% rated as Good, an Outstanding rating should be attainable. This article explores what it means to be …
Matt Hancock announced at the daily briefing on 5 June 2020 that face covering will become mandatory in all NHS hospital settings from 15 June 2020. Hospital staff will have to wear Type 1 or Type 2 surgical masks (or more stringent protection when advised) in all areas except those which have been designated “COVID-secure”. …
Ridouts is a team of specialist health and social care lawyers, providing dedicated legal advice for care homes, GP practices, children’s homes, dental practices, domiciliary and home care agencies, supported and independent living services and both private and NHS hospitals.
info@ridout-law.com • +44 (0) 207 317 0340
7-10 Chandos Street, W1G 9DQ, London
