GPs and trusts face 'exorbitant' CQC fees hike

  GPs and NHS trusts face huge regulatory fee rises under proposals the BMA says could be devastating for the health service. The plans proposed by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) could mean a sevenfold rise for GPs working in multiple locations and would mean practices in England paid a total of £40m a year to the regulator. The association says these ‘exorbitant’ hikes are ‘inexplicable’ given that the CQC is looking to scale down its inspection process and warns of a potentially catastrophic effect on patient care for small GP practices, whose fees could rise from £725 to £4,839 in two years. Doctors leaders say the plans in a CQC consultation expose the cynicism behind the Government’s comprehensive spending review to account for the NHS England budget — separate from the Department of Health’s funds. ‘By forcing NHS providers to pay fees direct to CQC — masquerading as full costs recovery — the Government will no doubt assert a decrease in DH spend, while in reality mercilessly raiding a budget, purportedly ringfenced for frontline services,’ the BMA says in its formal response to the consultation, which looks at whether the CQC should move to full costs recovery within two or four years.   'Bloated bureaucracy' It adds: ‘As the sole provider of system regulation and consequently with a monopoly and captive market, the CQC is an increasingly bloated bureaucracy with lit...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news