FOR the first time, GPs’ surgeries have been ranked by an NHS watchdog. The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
By using ‘intelligent monitoring’, from April 2013 to the end of March, it has been able to grade almost every surgery in the country, in bands from one to six in terms of the care it provides.
With 38 indicators used to determine whether patients face ‘risk’ or ‘elevated risk’, this is a thorough survey and we welcome the transparency it affords patients.
Fortunately, York, North Yorkshire and the East Riding fare pretty well. A couple of surgeries have been identified as priorities for inspection, but the majority were banded at five or six and are of low concern.
GPs have come in for some criticism lately, some of it justifiably, but isn’t it good to know the fundamentals are all in place?
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