October 18th 2024
Staffing levels and pay scales within the primary care inspectorate should be reviewed as a matter of urgency, a review of CQC performance has concluded.
Writing a review of CQC's single assessment framework and its implementation former CQC chief inspector Sir Mike Richards concludes that there are currently too few staff working in the hospital and primary care inspection programmes. He notes: "The gap between NHS and CQC pay scales has almost certainly contributed to the loss of inspection staff."
Other recommendations include to appoint at least three chief inspectors with specialist expertise in regulated sectors.
The calls to improve GP regulation in England have been made in two damning reports of the CQC: the final report of Dr Penny Dash’s review and the first report of the review by Professor Sir Mike Richards.
In response the CQC says it will
The report from Dr Penny Dash also talks about the need to change assessments of local authorities and integrated care systems.
Read the CQC's full response
