GP leaders have asked the BMA to negotiate the removal of the CQC’s single-word ratings when assessing general practice services.
At their national conference in London last week, England’s LMC leaders voted in favour of a motion arguing that the use of ‘single-word judgements’ for GP services by CQC is ‘damaging’ and ‘unhelpful’.
They called for the BMA’s GP committee to negotiate a removal of these ratings altogether and a change in inspection methodology to move from ‘a judgemental approach’ to a ‘supportive quality improvement process’.
Last month, a CQC internal review recommended that the use of one-word ratings for GP practices should be evaluated.
The conference also called for additional support for practices to manage the workload in dealing with CQC inspections.
Birmingham LMC’s Dr Rupesh Jha, who spoke in favour of the motion, said: ‘We have seen how incredibly damaging to organisations and tragically individuals that one-word rating can be.
‘The last thing practices want is a rating that does not promote growth and development. Instead, CQC must refrain from these ratings and consider using thoughtful and formative development, working with the staff and their patients to help and assist hard-working practices to improve their standards.’
Dr Philip Needham, from South Staffordshire LMC, also spoke in favour of the motion and said that one-word ratings mean that GPs go through a ‘complete professional assassination’ which often represents a ‘damnation of everything that they’ve been working for’.
‘I just feel that, if it hasn’t happened already, this will lead to the potential suicide of colleagues,’ he added.
BMA GPC England deputy chair Dr Julius Parker congratulated brave speakers, saying: ‘I think it’s very difficult to come up here and tell colleagues how GPs felt during those experiences, but it is really helpful for us.
‘As you know, we don’t always agree with our secretary of state, but when he described the CQC as not fit for purpose, I think an ironic smile came across almost everybody who experienced the CQC.’
Last month a major review into the CQC commissioned by the Government confirmed ‘significant failings’ in the way the watchdog operates.
The damning review found that CQC ‘lost its credibility’ within the services and providers it inspects, with a ‘lack of consistency’ and transparency observed in CQC ratings of GP practices.
The CQC own internal review argued that a ‘fundamental reset of the organisation is needed’ and that the CQC ‘will never be able to deliver on its objectives’ if the current structure is maintained.
The motions in full
CQC
That conference believes that the use of ‘single word judgements’ for general practice services by CQC is damaging and unhelpful, and calls on GPCE to negotiate:
(i) removal of these ratings altogether
(ii) a change in inspection methodology to move from a judgemental approach to a
supportive quality improvement process
(iii) additional support for practices to manage the workload in dealing with a CQC inspection. UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED (all parts were voted on together)
Source: BMA
