Does CQC Expect Private Clinics to Offer Independent Complaint Review?

What CQC says

• Regulation 16 guidance: providers should consider adding an independent review stage if their process does not have one.
• Mythbuster 103: "It is good practice to provide independent adjudication on complaints."
• Private patients cannot use the PHSO, so independent review is the only neutral route.

The Paterson Inquiry

After the Paterson Inquiry, the government accepted in December 2021, in principle, that all private patients should have access to independent complaint resolution, and said it would consider legislation if not enough action was taken.

What to do now

Add an independent final stage to your complaints policy, tell patients about it, and keep records CQC can see. HSCAMP membership gives you all 3.