Inspecting the inspectors
After £100m has been spent, nearly 7,000 practices have been graded and countless stress has been caused for practices Pulse’s latest issue looks at the final results of the CQC’s inspections of practices and whether the whole process has been worth it.
We have a Q&A with chief inspector Professor Steve Field, who answers questions on what his achievements have been. We also speak with two GPs with differing views on their own inspection.
The issue also looks at what all the different parties may propose for health in the general election and why GP experts are calling on NICE to scrap two of its draft guidelines on asthma, due to rising preventable mortality in the UK.
Pulse also publishes the winning entries in its writing competition, where GPs wrote a letter to the Prime Minister to explain why she should prioritise general practice. The winning entry from Dr Sam Finnikin is an emotional appeal for Theresa May to ensure that the health service is protected, so that it is there when she and others need it.
The issue contains 3.5 CPD hours, with modules on pre-travel advice, challenges in ophthalmology and ten ways to better use ‘fit notes’. And we have the story of a GP volunteering in Tanzania and how she copes with practising medicine from a floating health centre. Inspiring stuff.