Care Quality Commission

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What is CQC and what is their role?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the Government's independent regulator of health and adult social care services.  They  register hospitals, care homes, dentists and domiciliary care services, as well as a variety of other services, and monitor them to ensure that they are meeting the essential standards. If necessary, they take action when standards are not being met.

From April 2013, they will also be regulating GPs and other primary medical services.

Benefits for patients

CQC protects patients by tackling poor care and unsafe care services.  Patients can be assured that practices are inspected regularly and are meeting the standards they should be able to expect.  The information published by the CQC will help patients make informed choices about where they receive care and what they can expect.

Patients can communicate directly with CQC if they have concerns about their care or want to give them feedback.  CQC  judgments are patient-focused and they check if patients’ experience of care is what they should be able to expect.

Patients should experience consistent standards of care, whether they're receiving health or social care, because the essential standards apply to all health and social care services.   Patients will know that they're being treated by staffs that have the right qualifications to do so.