CQC Press Releases in July Show a Worrying Picture for Care Home Providers

In July, the CQC issued press releases that ranged from enforcement notices against struggling providers to praise for outstanding councils. The Caregraph’s analysis shows that most of these announcements focused on negative outcomes rather than positive achievements.

CQC press releases are not neutral updates. Each one reflects a decision about what the regulator wants the public to see.

The Caregraph has examined the July output to ask a simple question, recognising that many of these CQC announcements are picked up directly by the media and therefore play a powerful role in shaping public perception of the sector.

What picture of care the public is likely to receive if we closely examine these press releases, both individually and as a group.

Across all 51 press releases, only 18 (35%) highlighted positive outcomes, while 33 (65%) focused on negative coverage.

What Counts as “Negative”

The Caregraph is not under any illusion about the hard work and commitment of many care providers who strive every day to deliver good care. Our classification of positive or negative is not a judgement on providers, but a reflection of how CQC itself chose to frame its public communications.

Why Did July’s CQC Press Releases Hit Care Homes Hardest?

A simple online search conducted by The Caregraph showed that most of these press releases were covered by either national or local media. This means that anyone following CQC updates during July would have been presented with more adverse stories about care in general, and particularly more negative stories about care homes compared to GP practices, hospitals, or other services.

This raises important questions:

• Was the number of press releases proportionate to the actual inspections completed in July or in the months before?
• On what basis does CQC choose which services to highlight in its press notices?
• Is this treatment consistent across other sectors such as GP practices, hospitals, and supported living?

The Caregraph will continue to examine whether the high number of press releases about care homes is proportionate to the actual inspections and reports published, and how this compares with other services.

The Caregraph View

CQC operates under immense pressure, facing ongoing criticism about its effectiveness and consistency. When failures occur, the regulator is often blamed, and its press releases become the primary way the public sees those issues reported. This makes the way CQC chooses which stories to highlight especially significant.