Regulation of UK healthcare

Key points on CQC regulation

The CQC rates the overall quality of care at healthcare providers in England as well as assessing individual domains of quality and specialist services.

From these ratings we see that the sector is doing well where broadly comparable data are available. We explain later the reasons why not all data can be reasonably compared due to differences in the number of services, service type or CQC methodology. We also see improvements in the performance of the sector over recent years, and areas where there is still scope for improvement.

Over 5,600 independent healthcare organisations are registered by the CQC. On average, over 90% of overall ratings for independent healthcare organisations are good or outstanding.

Although the sector is growing, the rate at which the CQC is assessing independent sector locations is too slow. A significant increase in pace is required for CQC assessments to remain current and to provide adequate coverage of the sector.

Core services across independent providers

• Core services have also improved, with 90% of core services run by independent providers rated good or outstanding compared to 75% in 2018.
  

Specific services

• 92% of independent sector hospitals (non-specialist) are rated overall good or outstanding by the CQC compared to 47% of NHS hospitals. This is a significant improvement since 2018 when around 70% of independent sector hospitals (non-specialist) were rated overall good or outstanding.
• There are 63 independent providers with ratings for Children and Young People’s services, 86% of which are good or outstanding.
• 87% of independent locations rated for diagnostic imaging services are good or outstanding.
• 92% of independent community healthcare locations are rated good or outstanding.
• 94% of independent doctors rated by the CQC are good or outstanding.
• 83% of IHPN members who deliver neurodevelopmental assessments (including those for ADHD and Autism under the NHS Right to Choose framework) and have been inspected, are rated good or outstanding overall. 100% of IHPN members delivering these services are registered with the CQC, but just 46% have been inspected.
  

IHPN members

• 94% of the IHPN member locations providing services in England that are rated by the CQC are considered good or outstanding.