Care Quality Commission
(CQC)
The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It registers and inspects hospitals, care homes, GP practices, home care agencies, and other care services, rating them as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Providers that fail to meet fundamental standards can be fined, restricted, or closed.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England, established under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. It registers and inspects NHS trusts, GP practices, private hospitals, care homes, home care agencies, and dental practices, rating them Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. CQC can issue warning notices, impose conditions, suspend or cancel registration, and take prosecution action. Families choosing a care home should check its latest CQC inspection report and rating at cqc.org.uk. Concerns about a regulated service can be reported to the CQC directly; the CQC does not resolve individual complaints but uses concerns to inform inspection priorities. For individual complaint resolution about NHS care, contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO); for adult social care, contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).