CQC launches consultation on regulatory fee changes

The CQC has launched a consultation on proposed changes to regulatory fees in 2019/20.

The changes will see a £800,000 reduction to £69m for the residential social care sector.

Ian Trenholm, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), said: “Health and social care regulation makes a real and practical difference to people’s lives and there needs to be a strong, independent regulator who will always act on the side of people who use services.

Story continues below

Advertisement

“Protecting the public in this way has a financial cost. The fees paid by providers enable us to fulfil our purpose of making sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.

“The consultation proposals we have published today follow the plans we set out to meet the Treasury’s requirement to recover our chargeable costs in full from providers. This consultation period gives providers and their representatives the opportunity to review, comment upon and plan for any changes that may affect them from April 2019.”

The CQC said feedback would be assessed before the recommendation of a final fees scheme to the Secretary of State for introduction from April 1.

The consultation runs until midday on 17 January 2019.