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Practices will have to ‘prominently display’ CQC ratings

GP practices will be required to ‘prominently display’ their CQC ratings from April this year, under new rules devised by the regulator.

Practices will be forced to display their rating on their website, patient waiting areas or ‘where as many people as possbile are able to see it’ – a move the GPC previously warned could lead to GPs being less likely to join a practice with a low rating.

Practices that fail to display their CQC rating within 21 days of its being published on the regulator’s website could be faced with a fine.

The regulator has created a series of posters that will be automatically generated through the regulator’s website for all providers that receive a CQC rating and practices will be expected to print and display them.

Chief executive of the CQC, David Behan said: ‘We know that our ratings are an important source of information to support people’s choice of service and the aim of this new requirement is all about helping to achieve better awareness and greater transparency for members of the public about which care services are Outstanding, Good, Require Improvement or Inadequate.

‘I am determined for CQC to be on the side of people, and their families, who are receiving health and adult social care services so they can get access to safe, high-quality and compassionate services that they have absolutely every right to expect.’

Last month, GP leaders expressed concern after hearing universities are using the CQC ‘intelligent monitoring’ data to decide where to send GP students on placement.