CQC Suspends Inspections During COVID-19 Outbreak
The CQC has suspended all routine inspections, effective immediately, Pulse has learned.
The regulator will stop inspections starting today, with ‘clinically qualified CQC special advisors’ having ‘already returned to the frontline to help with the wider national response’ to the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic.
The regulator said a conversations would be held with providers in the instances when physical inspections are required. Providers are advised to contact the watchdog within 24 hours of any suspected or known case of the virus, including service users, staff, volunteers’ or visiting professionals.
The chief inspector announced a range of measures designed to provide greater support for registered managers during the outbreak, including:
- not penalising the late return of Provider Information Returns (PIRs);
- reducing reporting burden by sharing information with local authorities and clinical commissioning groups; and
- using information gathered from PIRs to inform and influence government and commissioners to provide support and address issues such as workforce challenges.
Other support that CQC is offering the system includes the return of clinically qualified CQC special advisors to the frontline to help with the wider national response; secondments of staff to DHSC, Public Health England and NHS England.
The regulator’s customer contact centre expects to start taking non-clinical COVID-19 calls [from next week] in support of 111. CQC staff also stand ready to help any other part of the national effort whether that be in the public or private sector.
