30.03.12
CQC not ready for new responsibilities – PAC
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has a ‘long way to go’ to become an effective regulator, a new report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) suggests, adding that it is not convinced the regulator is ready to take on more responsibilities planned under the Government reforms.
PAC reiterated previous criticisms over the past year concerning the lack of inspections, the decision to scrap a whistleblowers’ helpline and failure to fill key vacancies. The report stated that the findings raised questions about the governance, leadership and culture of the CQC.
Margaret Hodge, chair of the committee, said: “We are far from convinced that the CQC is up to the major challenge of registering and assessing 10,000 GP practices this year.
“Registration will now be decided on the basis of information from GPs themselves and there is a risk that the CQC will simply become a postbox. Unless the assessment of GP practices is meaningful and robust the commission cannot be sure that basic standards of quality and safety are being met.”
NHS Confederation deputy chief executive David Stout said: “We have clearly questioned whether the operation of the CQC was fit for purpose. An effective regulator needs a clear role if it is to earn the confidence of the organisations it regulates.”
He suggested that a clear action plan was needed to improve the way the CQC works, rather than a simplistic increase of inspections or radical restructuring.
However the Department of Health has recently agreed funding for more inspectors. A spokesman for the Care Quality Commission said: “We are disappointed that the report does not recognise the significant improvements of recent months.”
There was a rise in unannounced inspections this year, with 2,400 in January alone.
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]