From April 2014 GP practices will be given two weeks’ notice before a CQC inspection under major changes to the way visits are carried out.

A CQC statement has said: ‘CCGs are being given at least four weeks advance notice that their area has been selected and GP practices in those areas will have at least two weeks’ notice of an inspection as opposed to the previous 48 hours, CQC reserve the right however to inspect unannounced at any time where a practice is identified as a risk.

As reported by Pulse, the Chief inspector of primary care Professor Steve Field has claimed that the change heralds a ‘new approach’ in the way the CQC works with GP practices, aiming to support them to raise standards.