Digital System Resilience, Downtime Planning and Continuity of Care Records
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Digital systems bring efficiency, but CQC expects providers to plan for failure. Inspectors increasingly ask how records are maintained when systems go down and how continuity of care is protected. This links directly to business continuity expectations and risk and safeguarding assurance.
Lack of planning is treated as a foreseeable risk.
Why Digital Resilience Matters to CQC
CQC recognises that system failures happen.
Inspectors assess whether providers:
- Anticipate outages
- Protect critical information
- Maintain safe care delivery
Failure to plan undermines safety.
Downtime Procedures and Paper Contingencies
Providers must demonstrate clear downtime processes.
This includes:
- Accessible paper templates
- Staff awareness of procedures
- Clear re-entry processes
Ad hoc responses are viewed negatively.
Data Backup and Recovery Arrangements
Inspectors increasingly ask about backups.
They expect:
- Regular automated backups
- Secure storage
- Tested recovery processes
Unverified backups offer false reassurance.
Staff Training and Confidence During Outages
CQC considers whether staff are prepared.
This includes:
- Training on downtime procedures
- Clear leadership during incidents
- Post-incident learning
Confidence reduces risk during disruption.
Post-Incident Review and Assurance
Inspectors expect learning after outages.
This should include:
- Incident reviews
- Action plans
- Updated procedures
Learning demonstrates effective governance.
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