What is the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?
The CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. Their role includes the registration of care providers, monitoring, inspection, and rating of services and protecting people who use these services. They speak with an independent voice, publishing views on major quality issues in health and social care.
You can find out more about their role from the CQC website.
How does the CQC monitor and regulate health and social care services?
The CQC ensures that quality standards are being met and that safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care is being provided. This is done by analysing and inspecting services and by collecting information to help them monitor how providers are performing.
How are health and social care services rated by the CQC?
There are four ratings given to health and social care services: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, and Inadequate. These can help you compare services and make choices about care. By law, care providers must display their ratings so that people who use their services can easily see them.
How is Benenden Hospital rated by the CQC?
We’re immensely proud to have been rated as Outstanding in our latest CQC Inspection Report, which was published in May 2017. Inspectors found several areas of outstanding practice across the hospital, including:
- Our commitment to the prevention and control of infection
- The hospital leadership and commitment from staff, with all staff inspired to provide a good service to patients
"Staff from different disciplines worked together to meet the needs of patients who used the service and treated people with dignity, respect and kindness. There was strong collaboration and support across all staff groups and a common focus on improving the quality of care and the vision and values were well embedded amongst staff."