What is the primary purpose of the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?

The primary purpose of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is to ensure that health and social care services meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. This involves assessing various care providers, including hospitals, care homes, and GP practices, to make sure they deliver safe, effective, compassionate, and high-quality care to patients and clients. The CQC conducts regular inspections, produces reports, and holds services accountable for their performance, thereby safeguarding the public and helping to promote improvements in care standards.

Focusing on meeting these fundamental standards helps to protect vulnerable individuals and ensure that they receive appropriate and respectful care. The regulatory framework established by the CQC also helps foster transparency and encourages organizations to strive for continuous improvement.

While regulating healthcare professionals is an important function, it does not encompass the full scope of the CQC's purpose, which extends to the services themselves. Promoting new healthcare technologies and providing training for healthcare workers are also vital but secondary to the overarching commitment to quality and safety that defines the CQC's mission.