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CQC compliance guide – Step 2, Acceptance
24th Feb 2011
There is a great deal of negativity surrounding the whole issue of CQC compliance. There are three approaches which seem to prevail: the first equates to 'the end of the world is nigh', the second is all-consuming panic and the third is one of 'we've got that covered and we are getting on with running our practice efficiently and moving on to more inspiring things'.
I personally have probably started out with the second and hope soon to be in the third, I'm sure I'm not alone. Clearly, there is still a minority who truly believe the world will end. CQC is a set of habits – they will take a bit of effort to adopt, but once they are there, they won't require too much more effort.
In the summer, a medical GP moved her practice to our building. In order to practice she had to show compliance with CQC (medics have had to comply for a couple of years).
She had previously been in an independent partnership but, under the umbrella of a private hospital, so most of the requirements had been handled by the umbrella organisation.
She knew she had to sort it for herself as well as setting up her new practice and that she would be inspected. She got her head down and diligently put the paperwork in order at the beginning.
When inspected apparently the comment from the inspector was that she was 'the most inspirational GP she had met in a long time'.
The inspector was not commenting on her 'box-ticking abilities', she was commenting on the fact that she had set up something of value which was inspiring. She had done what was necessary, set it aside and got on with all the other things on the agenda.
CQC has been added to the 1,001 other things that we have to do in our practices and as practice owners we are in danger of feeling overwhelmed.
However, once the systems and habits are in place, we will all move on with the confidence of knowing the house is in order. We will emerge as more confident owners and leaders than before.
There is not a successful business in the civilised world which is not subject to regulation and that will have chosen to be systematised. That is how they achieve the necessary consistency to be successful and are able to expand and diversify as they wish.
Thousands of pounds are spent by many dentists each year on business gurus to take their practices forwards, many fall at the first hurdle because they can't be bothered, first of all, to deal with the boring things – the starting place for much of this is uncannily similar to the CQC requirement.
Much of it is sound business practice, most of it is not new but has just not been regulated. Some of it is excessive but nothing is without its advantages. Systems, that is all this is, and with it a giant accompanying checklist – anyone who has tried to systematise their practice starting from anywhere other than the very beginning has had an equally big headache, albeit a self-inflicted one.
CQC will soon have had its day and we will all move on – if we play it right instead of becoming a profession of 'grumpy old men' we will move forwards with proper line management and delegation.
Systems and policies will be in place which take the stress out of so many situations. Invaluable feedback from patients, which we are justified in asking for and can use to improve our practices still further, will be commonplace.
Over the years, the dentists I have met – who are in control of their practices instead of being controlled by them – are the ones who have signed up to the 'Investors in People'-type schemes – whether officially or a version of their own design.
They have seen a need and put the necessary disciplines in place. The ones who have stood still or struggled are the ones who have felt self indignant.
The 'grumpy old men' will probably close their doors and find an excuse which says it was someone else's fault… the reality is they have probably been struggling to stand still for years. I believe you either move forwards or backwards.
I am going forward positively and there will be many others who will do so, too!
Author
Gaynor Barrett
Dr Gaynor Barrett graduated from Guy’s Dental School in 1989, having won both the Newland Pedley Medal and Prize and the Stephen D Hey Prize for Restorative Dentistry in her final year. She went on to complete further hospital training first of all as House Officer in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Guy’s Hospital and then at Stoke Mandeville Hospital where she held the position of Senior House Officer in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Since 1991, she has been in private practice in London’s West End medical district and Principal Dentist since 2000. Gaynor Barrett is the mother of four children and has successfully combined a high profile career with caring for her own children.
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