Healthcare Websites and all Independent Healthcare Providers to be Rated by CQC

The Department of Health has confirmed that it will grant the Care Quality Commission (CQC) the power to rate even more healthcare services, such as those offering medical advice and prescriptions from GPs online, independent community health services and independent doctors (previously reported on but not rated).

This confirmation means that people will have clear, accessible and independent information about even more of their healthcare services in England.

The CQC is already inspecting many of these services, but to date has only published findings in the form of a report, now each organisation will be awarded a rating in the same way as independent hospitals, general practices and adult social care services as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate.

The CQC will develop its approach for rating these additional services in the coming months and plans to consult on plans as soon as possible.  In the meantime, they will continue to inspect these services and publish findings in reports without ratings.

Sir David Behan, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission, said: “CQC’s ratings of health and care services are helping people to make informed choices about their care as well as supporting providers to improve. Never before has the public had such clear information about the quality and safety of their health and care services."

“CQC already inspects and publishes reports for these additional services and so, the ability to award ratings to them will bring increased transparency for the public about the quality and safety of their healthcare."