IDF wants private GPs as inspectors
By Robin Stride
Private GPs are pressing the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to supply private GPs to inspect them – not NHS doctors.
This is because their representatives are less than impressed so far with the treatment they have had from the inspection body.
The Independent Doctors Federation’s (IDF) GP committee chairman said there had been a number of consultation meetings about new inspection protocols, which should be more tailored to the service being inspected.
Dr Neil Haughton
Newly appointed Dr Neil Haughton told the IDF’s AGM that the premise and promise was that ‘expert’ inspectors, such as GPs, practice nurses and pharmacists, would be used.
The IDF had argued that inspectors should therefore be from, or at least understand, private practice rather than judge private GPs in the same way as their NHS colleagues.
Dr Haughton, of the Notting Hill Practice, told members: ‘We are committed to providing as much information as they need and have put in considerable hours of effort, but we remain to be convinced that they are listening effectively. Certainly, the last meeting we had was very unsatisfactory.’
He added: ‘I have invited the senior national GP inspector to my own practice to see how we work and stress the differences that needs to be taken into account and he is due to visit in the next couple of months.
‘It does seem we are speaking different languages sometimes, but we can hope – we should not be their default whipping horse.’
The IDF is holding a workshop on the new CQC inspection format at The King’s Fund on 28 May.
Recent IDF meetings with private medical insurers, especially Bupa, were ‘constructive’, according to IDF chairman Dr Peter King-Lewis.
He said: ‘There are other organisations who don’t believe in this way forward, but we believe we can make a difference.’