THE Chair of Gloucestershire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee has written to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) calling on it to review the number of care provider inspections it carries out.

The letter, written by Cllr Dr Rebecca Trimnell argues that the CQC’s current level of inspections does not give residents an accurate picture of the care market in Gloucestershire.

It highlights the number of new providers registering in Gloucestershire was double the number of inspections undertaken in the last quarter, and previously inspected providers have waited up to 10 years for a return visit, to provide an up-to-date inspection.

Cllr Dr Trimnell said: “It is important that our residents have the correct information when they make their decisions about care for themselves or their loved ones.

“On behalf of the committee, I wrote to the CQC to ask what action they plan to take to ensure that enough inspections are being carried out to allow residents to have an accurate picture.”

The Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee is concerned that five per cent of residential and nursing homes and 35 per cent of community-based providers in the county have not been inspected by CQC.

Gloucestershire has 397 services registered with the CQC, with 79 of these still awaiting their first graded inspection. The letter also asks the CQC what action it is taking to address the issue.

Stefan Kallee, Deputy Director of the CQC, has responded to Cllr Dr Trimnell acknowledging the concerns raised by the committee and pointing to improvements being made.

Cllr Dr Trimmell said: “I am pleased that the CQC responded so promptly and advised of improvements they are carrying out. We will continue to monitor this situation.”

You can read the full letter online through Gloucestershire County Council’s website.