Helen Salisbury: Failings at the Care Quality Commission
We learnt recently that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has been branded not fit for purpose in an interim report.1 Founded in 2009, the CQC is responsible for ensuring the safety of health and care provision in England, and this verdict came as no surprise to organisations that have endured its inspections. Some practices probably believe that the inspectors were fair in their judgments and helpful in their feedback—but these seem to be a minority. Rather than a supportive system that helps practices improve, colleagues describe interactions that are highly stressful, confrontational, and accusatory. “Incompetent and callous” was …