A private hospital that terminated a pregnancy, even though it was not registered for this regulated activity, as required by law, has paid a £4,000 fixed penalty notice.
CQC issued a fixed penalty notice to Chase Lodge Health Limited after the procedure was carried out at Chase Lodge Hospital in Mill Hill, north London in September 2015.
It is an offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to carry out a regulated activity without being registered with the CQC – in this case the termination of a pregnancy.
Professor Edward Baker, Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: "The law requiring private hospitals to register with the Care Quality Commission for each type of activity they undertake is there to protect their patients. That ensures that all registered providers are then subject to a system of monitoring and ongoing inspection to make sure that standards are being maintained.
"In these circumstances we will not hesitate to take further action to protect people from providers who ignore the requirements of the law.
"Registration protects people because it ensures there are safety checks in place and a system of inspection to monitor it."
Chase Lodge Health Limited has paid the fixed penalty notice in full.
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We will not hesitate to take further action to protect people from providers who ignore the requirements of the law.
Prof Edward Baker, Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals