CQC Press Release Roundup February 2026
February 2026 saw the CQC take decisive action with heavy fines and service closures alongside celebrating top-tier care.
The Care Quality Commission published press releases on 41 different health and social care services. These ranged from local authority assessments to criminal prosecutions in the care home sector.
The regulatory landscape this month paints a picture of stark contrasts. While many services demonstrated exceptional innovation, others faced severe interventions due to systemic failures and poor leadership.
Local Authorities
The rollout of new duties to assess local authorities resulted in eight published reports this month. The overall picture is highly encouraging. Six councils achieved a Good rating by demonstrating strong preventative strategies.
Bolton Council was praised for its robust discharge processes and initiatives designed to reduce long-term dependency. London Borough of Southwark successfully utilized an Ethical Care Charter to improve homecare satisfaction. Milton Keynes City Council showcased a strong culture of continuous learning and an inclusive space for people with lived experience.
Oldham Council was celebrated for repurposing empty properties for independent living. Warwickshire County Council received high praise for its strategic needs assessments and swift provision of equipment. Swindon Borough Council was upgraded from Requires Improvement to Good following a formal review that highlighted additional evidence regarding their governance.
Two councils were rated Requires Improvement. The London Borough of Hackney faced issues regarding long waits for those triaged under its waiting well policy. Similarly, Westmorland and Furness Council needs to improve waiting times for occupational therapy and address gaps in specialist supported housing.
Care Homes
Birchwood in Chesham achieved an incredible leap from Inadequate to Outstanding. The home was praised for empowering autistic residents. Tottle Brook House in Nottingham was rated Outstanding on its first inspection for exceptional and proactive distress management. Crawford Care Home in Bognor Regis was upgraded to Outstanding for its compassionate culture and reductions in the use of anti-psychotic medications.
Successful turnarounds were also seen in Essex. Both Elmcroft Care Home and Westcliff Lodge Limited were upgraded from Inadequate to Good after comprehensive environmental updates.
Conversely, five care homes were placed or kept in special measures after receiving Inadequate ratings. Stonedale Lodge in Merseyside remained Inadequate due to persistent failures in pressure ulcer prevention. West Hill Care Home in Dartford saw staff attempting to provide catheter care without training. Dover House in Kent was downgraded from Good following reports of an overpowering smell of urine and severe dehydration. College House in Devon was downgraded due to unsafe environments. Parkhill Nursing Home in Cheshire remained Inadequate after five consecutive poor inspections.
In two highly serious cases, the CQC pursued criminal prosecutions. Yorklea Limited was fined after pleading guilty to breaching the duty of candour when a resident developed sepsis. Crest House Care Limited in East Sussex was ordered to pay a significant fine after a resident suffered life-changing fractures from falling out of an unrestricted window.
Domiciliary Care and Supported Living
Homecare services mirrored the care home sector with a sharp divide between exceptional care and enforced closures. Home Instead – Eastbourne and Hailsham retained its Outstanding rating for going above and beyond for clients. Leicester City Council’s Reablement Provider Service was also upgraded to Outstanding for its work in rapid rehabilitation.
The CQC took the ultimate step of removing the registration of Bright Brains Global Limited in Chatham. This forced the service to close after repeated human rights failures. Enabling Others Limited in Leicestershire was downgraded to Inadequate for dangerous medicines management. Continuity Health Care Services PVT Limited was also rated Inadequate due to inconsistent care calls and missed medications.
Hospitals and NHS Trusts
NHS Trusts continue to grapple with immense pressure. Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust achieved a Good rating for its overall leadership. At the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, surgery and emergency care were rated Good but maternity services require improvement. Worthing Hospital saw its maternity services upgraded to Good after addressing cultural issues.
Severe crowding continues to plague other trusts. Derriford Hospital saw its emergency care re-rated as Requires Improvement due to corridor care. The Ipswich Hospital faced warning notices and a drop to Requires Improvement after patients waited up to 20 hours for admission. Surgery at Salford Royal Hospital remained Requires Improvement which prompted a warning notice over dangerous staffing levels.
Mental Health and General Practice
Mental health provision saw bright spots of compassionate care. Navigo Health and Social Care CIC in Grimsby achieved an Outstanding rating for its older people's wards. Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust saw its children's wards upgraded to Good.
However, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust was rated Requires Improvement for leadership. Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust saw its forensic wards upgraded to Requires Improvement but staffing shortfalls continue to impact the wider trust.
In primary care, York Street Health Practice in Leeds was upgraded to Outstanding for its work with homeless populations. In contrast, Dr IK Babar & Partners in Rochdale was downgraded to Inadequate due to poor tracking of high-risk medications. Adelaide Surgery in Blackpool successfully met previous warning notices but its overall rating remains Inadequate pending a full inspection.
Specialist Clinics and Hospices
Private clinics and specialist services rounded out the month. The Newson Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon was upgraded to Outstanding for its menopause care. Douglas Macmillan Hospice in Staffordshire was also upgraded to Outstanding for empowering patients in their end-of-life care. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance achieved an Outstanding rating on its first inspection for gold-standard critical care. On the other end of the spectrum, the private Face Perfect Clinic in Leeds was rated Inadequate for failing to manage risks.
The Caregraph View
CQC press releases only reflect a fraction of the regulator's immense safeguarding work. While they do not always provide a complete picture, The Caregraph analyses these publications because they shape the public perception that fuels national media.
The most striking development this month is the shift in how the regulator enforces the duty of candour. For years, this was discussed as a professional ideal. This month, the CQC turned that ideal into a legal reality through significant criminal prosecutions of Yorklea Limited and Crest House Care Limited.
These actions send a powerful message to all providers. Being open and transparent is no longer a suggestion but a legal necessity. Providers must be honest about care failures or face the consequences of a regulator now willing to use its full range of criminal powers to punish secrecy.
Disclaimer: The Caregraph does not seek to criticise the Care Quality Commission. Our analysis of press releases and news is intended to highlight what the regulator is communicating, including where information may appear inconsistent. The aim is to give the public a clearer understanding of these announcements and to encourage transparency, not to challenge or undermine the regulator’s role.
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