28.11.12
NHS to get Ofsted-style inspections – Hunt
An Ofsted-style grading system could be introduced to the NHS.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt is expected to propose a new grading system for hospitals and care homes in England. The proposed system will be reviewed by the Nuffield Trust, which will report back in March 2013 with recommendations on implementation.
Currently services only have to meet minimum standards from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Hunt is expected to say: “As an MP I know how well each school in my constituency is doing thanks to independent and thorough Ofsted inspections. But because the CQC only measures whether minimum standards have been reached, I do not know the same about hospitals and care homes.
“I am not advocating a return to the old 'star ratings' but the principle that there should be an easy-to-understand, independent and expert assessment of how well somewhere is doing relative to its peers must be right.”
Jennifer Dixon, director of the Nuffield Trust said: “It's a sensible question to ask about how the quality of care is assessed in health and social care providers, given all the systems currently in place to boost and monitor quality for the public.
“At the Nuffield Trust we look forward to doing an independent analysis of this issue working with a range of groups across the health and social care world in the UK, learning from past experience, from other sectors, and from other countries.”
Royal College of Nursing chief executive & general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: “We know that Ofsted is a credible ratings system, which is respected by parents and users of the system. The RCN would support the introduction of a more comprehensive and robust system that can reflect the quality of services and the patient experience.
“We would like to see a more nuanced system than simply the 'friends and family' test that takes account of a wider range of factors and we look forward to seeing more details of this proposal.
“We know that as finances are squeezed, the quality of patient care is increasingly under threat. Increased transparency and more information for patients will help to ensure financial considerations do not override patient care. Equally, we know that there is no substitute for having the right number of staff with the right skills in hospitals and care homes.”
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