Care Quality inspections ‘traumatic’, say most ethnic minority GPs

MORE than 70 per cent of GPs from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds have described the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections in General Practice as “traumatic”.

The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

The survey was carried out by the GP forum at the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO).

Its findings showed that more than 85 per cent of the 130 respondents felt the inspections do not add value to the clinical care or prevent harm.

As many as 80 per cent of those polled did not think these inspections are fair, transparent, objective or replicable.

According to the survey, 90 per cent of the respondents said the inspectors showed “no understanding of the diversity and cultural aspects of the team” or the populations.

More than 50 per cent of GPs surveyed said smaller practices in inner-city and rural areas receive disproportionately poorer outcomes, it said.

“The survey confirms our worries that inspections are simply a burden on GPs and a huge source of strain on the staff. It is unfortunate that so many feel unable to challenge CQC decisions and do not have confidence in the ratings,” said Dr Kamal Sindhu, chair of the BAPIO GP Forum and GP in the north-east. “This has to lead to positive change especially with massively overstretched and exhausted staff who have been working very hard throughout the pandemic.”

The survey also showed that three out of four respondents felt the checks by the independent regulator were “intense” and took staff away from clinical care.

The CQC chief inspector of primary care said it is committed to equality. “One of the challenges my team and I have been reflecting on is concerns that practices led by GPs from an ethnic minority background receive poorer CQC ratings or regulatory outcomes,” Dr Rosie Benneyworth said last month.