A more dynamic CQC

Regulating the recovery – David Hare explains how the Care Quality Commission is evolving as a result of Covid.

As the regulator of all health and care services in England, the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) State of Care report assessing the whole of the healthcare system, is always hotly anticipated. 

But, this year, its insights have had to evolve and look both at the current state of the healthcare system as well as how it – along with healthcare regulators themselves – can to adapt to the ‘new normal’ environment of living with Covid.

In looking at the state of care pre-Covid, the CQC’s report contains few surprises. While healthcare across England was found to be broadly good, the CQC made clear that improvement was still required in key areas such as NHS urgent and emergency care, maternity and mental health provision.  

But, with regards to independent hospitals, there was good news, with the sector continuing on an upward trajectory of imp­rovement and the number of sites receiving good or outstanding ratings increasing from 83% to 87% over the last 12 months.