https://club.hcqc.co.uk/c/self-audits/edit-lesson/sections/517639/lessons/2621129
Private work is an unavoidable part of running a modern general practice. From insurance forms and DVLA reports to medical letters, travel vaccinations, and fitness-to-work certificates — these tasks sit outside your NHS contract, but they are still very much part of your patients’ experience of care.
That’s why how you handle them matters.
When private work is managed inconsistently — or treated as a reactive afterthought — it creates confusion for patients, frustration for staff, and reputational risk for the practice. It can also lead to avoidable complaints, delays in important processes, or the accidental sharing of confidential information.
This audit helps you get ahead of those risks.
What This Audit Helps You Understand
This self-assessment doesn’t just look at whether private work is being done — it asks if it’s being handled in a way that reflects good governance, clear communication, and respect for patients’ dignity and expectations.
It helps you check that:
- Requests are logged and tracked
- Timelines are realistic — and monitored
- Fees are communicated transparently
- Confidentiality and consent are respected
- Income is properly monitored and reconciled
It also supports your team to feel more confident discussing what is and isn’t NHS-funded — and to avoid the common confusion that can arise when these lines blur.
Why It Matters to the CQC
Even though private work is technically non-contractual, how you manage it still feeds into the CQC’s assessment of whether your practice is well-led, responsive, and person-centred.
This audit links directly to the CQC ‘We’ statements, including:
- Providing information (Responsive)
- Governance, management and sustainability (Well-led)
- Kindness, compassion and dignity (Caring)
By reviewing your systems for managing non-NHS requests, you’re not just preparing for inspection — you’re protecting your team and your patients from the stress that unclear or inconsistent processes can cause.
Click the link below to join our Inner Circle today for just £1 for your first month and unlock full access to every CQC audit — your essential toolkit to feel fully prepared and inspection ready! 👇
