The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and encourage care services to improve. Hospitals are rated on the following criteria: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.

The rating levels are:

• Outstanding - hospital has exceeded the requirements for patient safety, reporting and administration
• Good - hospital has satisfied all requirements.
• Requires improvement - some requirements not met. This may be slack administration and reporting but hospital is still safe to visit from a clinical perspective.
• Inadequate - reporting, management and administration in disarray. Hospital may be shut down by the authorities until they can improve their systems.