CQC inspections are back! 

There have so far been 6 inspections completed across the 3 localities we cover. Whilst there is no way of predicting when you might be receiving yours, we do know that there are some factors which contribute to being towards the top of the list.

These include a practice merger, a premises relocation, 5+ years since your previous inspection, quality concerns and patient complaints.  

With each new inspection that’s completed, we learn where their focus is and after only a handful of visits so far this year we can see patterns emerging.

The LMC continue to add to the CQC folder located in the ‘members only’ section of the Salford & Trafford LMC website. If you’ve yet to registered you can send a request via our contact page.  

On the website we have a number of tools available: 

a)  A summary of the evidence tables from CQC inspections completed within our 3 localities since March 22. 

b)  We know inspectors like Practice management to be able to find documents and evidence they request during an inspection quickly, which provides immediate oversight. It increases the inspector's confidence in the Practice leadership. As a result we have created a series of example logs which Practices can download and customise.   

They include:  

• Documentation
• Recrutiment
• Policies
• Training
• Practice leads
• Practice meeting 

c)  Information on the CQC searches and videos on how to run them 

d)  Detailed checklist to assist CQC compliance 

e)  A growing repository of practice policies 

As well as these we have a few other recommendations Practices might like to consider: 

• Practices can only benefit from all practices staff having a basic understanding of what CQC is.
• It can be helpful to keep up to date on which practices locally have been inspected and you can set up alerts which notify you when an inspection is taking place and when the report is published.  
• SUIs log and process – detailed sessions for all staff so they understand where their part of the process fits in the overall effectiveness of the practice
• The day after you are notified of an inspection the CQC team will run the searches remotely on your clinical system. If they see a flurry of activity on those area in a short space of time, they are likely to raise it as an area of concern
• There has been particular focus on a number of areas so far this year and we would encourage all Practices to ensure compliance.  

They include: 

• High risk drug monitoring
• PGD reviews and signatures
• Practice Audits
• Patients on medications without a diagnosis/on disease register
• Note summarising back log and a risk assessment to demonstrate how you are prioritising based on risk
• The completion of fire assessments
• MHRA safety alerts and evidenced practice process
• Patient Access and evidencing how you use patient engagement/feedback
• Defibrillators and accessories including spare batteries and in date pads. If you have a supply issue, you must have a written risk assessment and contingency plan
• Emergency drugs – if you decide not to hold a particular medication on site, ensure there is a risk assessment in place.
• SUIs log and process – detailed sessions to explore the SUIs, evidence of the learning, changes to practice where relevent  and for all staff so they understand where their part of the process fits in the overall effectiveness of the practice
• Complaints – as above. Make sure they are acknowledged and dealt with in a timely way and you have a lead, and all staff are aware who it is.
• Identified leads for all key area with contingency plans for leave
• Meeting schedule – ops/clinical/leadership meetings schedule for the next 12 months, with a folder with Agendas with standing items, minutes/action logs on a shared drive, with all staff knowing how to access. Link on desktops.
• Where staff have specific role/responsibility they need to understand they are accountable for keeping their training/accreditation up to date, and providing evidence to the practice

  Useful links

There are also a number of useful links available. (Please note where a CQC mythbuster cites examples assume they will form part of the inspection)

Mythbuster 84 - managing high risk patients

Mythbuster 12 - accessing medical records during inspection (incl. searches)

BMA - preparing a CQC inspection presentation

CQC KLOES 

If you would like to have a chat about anything related to CQC please get in touch with Eve