Inspections in the UK’s care sector have fallen dramatically, figures show

Inspections undertaken by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have dropped by around 97% over the last seven years.

Pannone Corporate, a commercial law firm based in Manchester, discovered through a freedom of information request that the number of inspections conducted by Care Quality Commission, an independent regulator of health and adult social care in England, have fallen from 23,000 in 2015 to 8,000 in 2022.  

The request shows COVID-19 had an impact on the number of inspections decreasing in 2020, with CQC temporarily stopping all in-person inspections from March 16.

However, prior to the pandemic, reasons for the decline are ‘unclear’ according to Bill Dunkerley, Regulatory Lawyer and Associate Partner at Pannone Corporate.

Figures obtained from Manchester’s law firm show announced inspections fell from 6,684 in 2019 to 3,593 and unannounced inspections dropped from 19,586 in 2016 to 4,663 in 2022.

Mr Dunkerley said: ‘It’s very clear that the coronavirus pandemic had a profound effect on the CQC’s ability to carry out inspections within the care sector, despite a number of inspections taking place by means of its Emergency Support Framework.

‘However, what is clear from the figures is that inspections have been progressively declining over a number of years, from their peak in 2016.

‘The reason for this decline is unclear, given that inspections are the primary way the CQC monitors compliance.

‘Anecdotally, there may have been an initial backlog from when the new legislation came into force, with the CQC reviewing every application for re-registration.

Established in 2009, CQC changed their approach to delivering inspections after the pandemic. The new model now uses qualitative and quantitative data to target which areas of the care sector urgently need reviewing.  

‘As the Commission continues to capture information and rate providers in accordance with the new standards, there is less need for unannounced inspections,’ Mr Dunkerley said, ‘with inspectors proceeding instead by way of ongoing monitoring and announced follow-up visits in response to specific concerns received.’

Mr Dunkerly added: ‘This reflects the CQC’s revised – and evolving – regulatory model, which emphasises targeted inspections in response to specific concerns received. Moving forward, this risk-based approach is likely to continue as part of the Commission’s move towards a ‘single inspection framework’ and programme of rolling multi-point assessments.’

The inspections that CQC carry out cover, care homes, hospitals, dental services, clinics, homecare services, GPs and mental-health services based in local communities. 

Photo by Centre for Ageing Better