The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has written to all registered health and social care providers, informing them that routine inspections will be suspended in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

As of 16th March, the inspectorate will no longer be carrying out routine visits and will be moving towards other, remote methods to give assurance of safety and quality of care. In a small number of cases, such as where there are allegations of abuse, it will be continuing some activity. 

In a letter sent to adult social care providers, Ian Trenholm, Chief Executive, and Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, wrote:

“Our primary objectives during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic will to be to support you to keep people safe during a period of unprecedented pressure on the health and care system.

“It may be necessary to use some of our inspection powers in a very small number of cases when we have concerns of harm, such as allegations of abuse. However, inspections will not be conducted in their present form during the period of the pandemic. When physical inspections are deemed appropriate, we anticipate having a conversation with the provider before a visit takes place.

“Please notify CQC within 24 hours of any suspected or known case or outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19. This means one or more cases involving staff, people who use services, volunteers, visiting professionals, visitors or visiting contractors/suppliers that people within the service have had contact with.

“We encourage everyone to act in the best interests of the health of the people they serve, with the top priority the protection of life. We encourage you to use your discretion and act in the best way you see fit.”

www.cqc.org.uk/news/stories/routine-inspections-suspended-response-coronavirus-outbreak