Is Your Practice Inspection Ready? A Quick Guide to PAT Testing & Calibration
When it comes to patient care, attention to detail matters — and that includes your equipment. Ensuring your devices are safe, functional, and compliant isn’t just good practice, it’s a requirement. In this quick-read guide, we’ll explain what Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is, why it matters to GP surgeries, and how to keep your equipment inspection-ready without the stress.
What is PAT Testing?
PAT Testing stands for Portable Appliance Testing — a routine process that checks whether your electrical devices are safe to use.
This includes:
- A visual inspection for obvious faults
- An electrical safety test using certified equipment
- Pass/fail labelling for each item Audit-ready records to show during inspections
Practices should apply a risk-based approach. High-use or mobile devices may need more frequent checks.
Reference: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) — FAQ: Portable Appliance Testing
Are You Legally Required to PAT Test?
Yes, indirectly. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state all electrical equipment must be maintained safely. The CQC expects practices to take reasonable precautions to ensure this.
Best practice: Maintain regular PAT testing and keep simple, dated records of when testing and calibration were completed.
References:
- CQC GP Mythbuster 52 — PAT Testing & Calibrating Medical Equipment
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 — UK Government Legislation
What About Medical Calibration?
Calibration ensures your diagnostic equipment gives accurate results. It’s not just about safety — it’s about clinical confidence.
Medical devices requiring regular calibration include:
- Blood Pressure
- Monitors Spirometers
- ECG Machines
- Scales
Accurate diagnostics = better care and improved CQC outcomes.
Reference: CQC GP Mythbuster 52 — PAT Testing & Calibrating Medical Equipment
Our Complete Compliance Package
Let us take care of it all. Delivered by certified engineers. No hidden costs.
With one booking, you can arrange:
- Full PAT Testing Calibration of key diagnostic tools
- On-site visits or collection & return servicing
- Full compliance documentation
- Friendly, nationwide support
- Dedicated healthcare compliance team
- Flexible appointments to suit your surgery hours
- Competitive pricing and no surprise fees
- Trusted by 750+ practices across the UK
See Full Service Details & Book
PAT Testing and calibration may be behind-the-scenes tasks — but they play a central role in keeping your team safe, your patients protected, and your practice compliant.
Let us handle the paperwork and the testing, so you can focus on care.
