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BME GP partners more likely to receive ‘inadequate’ CQC rating

BME GP partners are more likely to receive an ‘inadequate’ CQC rating, Pulse has found.

At least 60% of partners in ‘inadequate’ practices are BME, according to an analysis of their names. 

GP partners have said that practices with BME partners are often disadvantaged by a lack of funding, resources and the environment they are in.

Pulse analysed all GP partner names across 68 ‘inadequate’ practices, using an online tool that classifies names into groups of common cultural ethnic and linguistic origins, and estimated that at least 60% of partners in such practices are BME.

These results were not restricted to those of any particular origin or background. 

Accrington GP partner Dr Murthy Motupalli said: ‘The majority of BME practices are in a very disadvantaged position. Their income is extremely disadvantaged, and their outcomes reflect their income…

‘If you tell me that BME practices are not performing, then I will question that and ask whether BME practices been given the resources they require. You can’t expect practices to perform miracles with minimum investment.’

BMA council chair and GP partner in North London, Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: ‘We have long argued that CQC inspections take insufficient account of context and pressures, and many BME doctors are working in the most challenging of environments, without adequate support and resources.’

The BMA has also announced that they will be running a conference this summer to develop an action plan to support BME doctors.

It has confirmed that CQC ratings are an area it hopes to cover at the event, but the programme is yet to be finalised.

CQC chief inspector of general practice Professor Steve Field responded: ‘Our recent report found just 2% (116) of practices in England were rated “inadequate”. A common theme among those is the impact of professional isolation, insufficient leadership and skill mix.

‘When we inspect practices we are inspecting the service as a provider of care, not individual GPs.

‘The CQC is comitted to equality and diversity, and does not tolerate discrimination in any form.’ 

This comes after the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin accused the GMC of treating BME doctors ‘differently and harshly’, and called on the body to make clear what monitoring is in place regarding differential treatment of BME doctors.

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