Care Quality Commission
Making regulatory processes fairer
The problem
The health and social care regulator had received complaints about its inspection processes, particularly for ethnic minority-led GP practices. These had been discussed in the media and were escalated formally by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). The CQC needed to know:
Whether there really was a difference in ratings, outcomes or experiences between ethnic minority-led GP practices other practices
What factors may be associated with differences in ratings, outcomes or experiences
What improvement it could bring to promote equity in ratings, outcomes and experiences
Our approach
To support the CQC, Versiti spent 5 days exploring in depth lived experiences of the CQC inspection process among 36 ethnic-minority GP leaders, and looking at effective measures to improve equity in ratings, experiences and outcomes.
Insight
External system-wide factors, internal factors within a practice, and factors related to CQC inspections can disproportionately affect ethnic minority-led practices and their ability to demonstrate how they provide good care. Achieving fairness meant taking account of different circumstances and support needs.
Impact
The CQC recognised its inspection process may ‘inadvertently disadvantage’ ethnic minority GPs. One year on, it has adapted its approach to:
Reflect GPs efforts to tackle health inequalities
Make more transparent judgments
Take account of contextual factors, like area deprivation
Use more diverse data and experiences
Diversify the profile of CQC colleagues
Provide tailored support for GP providers in areas of high deprivation and smaller practices
Work closely with system partners (e.g. NHSE, Royal Colleges, British Medical Association) to provide better support to ethnic minority-led GP practices
