‘Vast majority of practices rated good or outstanding, despite pressures’ says College Chair

College Chair Kamila Hawthorne featured in the MailOnline responding to a story ranking GP surgeries in England by CQC rating.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “GPs and our teams are delivering millions more appointments every month than five years ago but with only a handful more fully qualified, full-time GPs. We have raised repeated concerns that this is not safe for patients, nor sustainable for practices. Still, almost 95% of GP practices in England are currently rated good or outstanding, and GPs and their teams are working incredibly hard to deliver safe and timely care for their patients even as they face unrelenting pressures.

"However, where patient safety concerns have been raised, it is important that that practices are not vilified, but supported to improve, in the best interests of patients.

“Patient safety is paramount in general practice, and the College recognises that if implemented effectively and proportionately, inspections of GP practices can help to keep patients safe, and support practices that are struggling. But following independent reviews, the College has significant concerns about the CQC’s current inspection processes. Our governing Council has called for a pause in routine inspections until improvements are made, and an end to ‘one word’ ratings, in favour of alternatives that take into account the circumstances in which individual practices are working and provide greater support and transparency for patients and professionals.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.