The CQC regularly inspects all NHS trusts to make sure care meets essential standards of quality and safety. It publishes ratings to help people choose care. Below you will find some key questions that will help you when thinking about a CQC inspection visit.
What do inspectors look for?
Inspectors use a standard framework to assess services. In simple terms, CQC inspectors use five key questions to look at whether our services are:
- Safe
- Effective
- Caring
- Responsive to people’s needs
- Well-led.
The CQC will inspect at least one core service. The core services are:
- Urgent and emergency services
- Medical care (including older people’s care)
- Surgery
- Critical care
- Maternity
- Services for children and young people
- End of life care
- Outpatients
- Community health services for adults
- Community health services for children, young people and families
- Community health inpatient services
- Community end of life care.
During an inspection, evidence will be reviewed against quality statements linked to the five key questions: safe, caring, responsive, effective and well-led. These statements reflect the standards we aim to uphold, and our scores will be based on them.
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