The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England. It is responsible for inspecting and monitoring healthcare providers to ensure they meet national standards of safety and quality.
The CQC plays an important role in helping patients understand the quality of healthcare services across the NHS and private sector.
This guide explains what the CQC is, how inspections work, and what the different CQC ratings mean.
What is the Care Quality Commission?
The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator responsible for overseeing health and social care services in England.
The CQC was established to ensure that services provide safe, effective and high-quality care.
The regulator oversees a wide range of services, including:
- hospitals
- GP practices
- mental health services
- care homes
- private healthcare providers
What does the CQC do?
The CQC has several responsibilities related to healthcare quality and safety. These include:
- inspecting healthcare providers
- rating healthcare services
- monitoring care standards
- taking action when services do not meet required standards
Healthcare providers must register with the CQC before they can deliver regulated services.
How CQC inspections work
The CQC regularly inspects healthcare services to assess the quality of care being delivered. In recent years, the CQC has been moving toward a more data-driven, ongoing monitoring approach alongside traditional inspections, using data and intelligence to identify risks and focus resources where they are most needed.
During inspections, the CQC evaluates services across five key areas:
| Key question | What it means |
|---|---|
| Safe | Are patients protected from harm? |
| Effective | Does the service deliver effective care? |
| Caring | Are patients treated with compassion and respect? |
| Responsive | Does the service respond to patient needs? |
| Well-led | Is the organisation well managed and governed? |
CQC ratings explained
Following an inspection, healthcare providers receive an overall rating. The four possible CQC ratings are:
| Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Outstanding | The service performs exceptionally well |
| Good | The service meets expected standards |
| Requires Improvement | The service needs improvement in some areas |
| Inadequate | The service is failing to meet required standards |
These ratings help patients understand the quality of healthcare providers.
Key point
Why CQC ratings matter for patients
CQC ratings help patients make more informed decisions when choosing healthcare providers. They can provide insight into:
- quality of care
- patient safety
- leadership and management
- patient experience
Patients can search for provider ratings directly on the CQC website.
CQC and NHS services
The CQC regulates both NHS services and private healthcare providers.
This means that hospitals, GP practices, mental health services, and private clinics are all subject to inspection.
These inspections help ensure that healthcare services meet national standards, as outlined in the NHS Constitution.
Understand your rights and responsibilities under the NHS Constitution.
Using CQC information when choosing healthcare
When comparing healthcare providers, patients often review CQC ratings alongside other information such as waiting times and available services.
Understanding how the NHS referral process works can also help patients navigate their options when choosing a provider.
Understand the different types of NHS referrals and how to navigate them.
Find Care Compare helps patients explore healthcare providers and understand their options.
Find CQC-rated providers near you
Search NHS and private healthcare providers and compare CQC ratings alongside other factors.
- CQC rating
- Waiting times
- NHS and private options
Sources
This guide draws on publicly available CQC and NHS information.
Sources referenced include:
- Care Quality Commission — About the CQC (cqc.org.uk)
- Care Quality Commission — What we do (cqc.org.uk)
- Care Quality Commission — How we monitor, inspect and regulate (cqc.org.uk)
- Care Quality Commission — Services we regulate (cqc.org.uk)
- NHS Constitution for England (gov.uk)
Related guides
The NHS Constitution explained
Understand your rights and responsibilities under the NHS Constitution.
Read guide GuideHow to get referred to a specialist on the NHS
A step-by-step explanation of what happens after your GP refers you to a specialist.
Read guide GuideHow the NHS works
An overview of how the NHS is structured and how patients access care.
Read guide GuideHow NHS Funding Works
Learn how the NHS is funded and how money flows through the healthcare system.
Read guide