11.12.15
CQC ‘not an effective regulator’ and unprepared for 2016 duties – PAC
With an alarming lack of attention to detail and a long gap between inspections and reports, the CQC cannot yet be considered an effective regulator, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said.
Raising concerns about the body’s performance, the PAC said the CQC is still “behind where it should be, six years after it was established”. This is aggravated further by the body’s inadequacy in assessing its own performance, it argued.
MPs on the Committee also claimed it remained unclear how the CQC would implement and coordinate new responsibilities for assessing hospitals’ use of resources.
This was driven by staff shortages at the inspectorate body, which in turn were hindering its ability to complete inspection programmes. Further substantial weaknesses were identified in the consistency, accuracy and timeliness of its initial draft reports.
PAC’s chair, Meg Hillier MP, added that the Commission demonstrated a remarkable lack of attention to detail when preparing reports. One foundation trust told the committee that its staff identified more than 200 errors in a draft CQC report, for example, including errors in data.
“The fact these errors were picked up offers some reassurance, but this is clearly unacceptable from a public body in which taxpayers are placing their trust,” Hillier said.
“If the Commission is to properly fulfil its duty to taxpayers we must see improvements in the way it collects, acts upon and publishes information. At the same time, it should set out a coherent plan for managing its new responsibilities.”
The CQC’s slumping productivity and staff shortages have been no secret to public scrutiny, but Hillier said recruitment was also progressing too slowly – meaning people are being deprived of up-to-date, independent information about the quality of services provided.
“It is vital the public is clear on what the Commission has actually inspected, and when,” she continued, adding: “When the Commission falls short, there must be robust measures in place to enable Parliament and the public to hold it to account.”
PAC’s MPs concluded that the CQC is not yet ready to implement new responsibilities it takes on in April 2016 to assess the efficiency with which hospitals use their resources.
David Behan, the Commission’s chief executive, said: "We have always maintained that there is more we have to do, in particular with regards to improving the timeliness of our reports and inspecting all health and adult social care services. “These are not new issues and we have been working hard to improve our performance. We have reported on our progress in public every month and we will continue to do so.
“What is essential is that we do not take any shortcuts, which could compromise the quality of the important work that we do.”
According to Behan, people are “increasingly confident” in the CQC’s new and more rigorous approach to inspections – but he assured the body is not complacent, and will continue to work confidently to improve its work.
The Committee will return to this subject after reviewing what further progress the CQC makes in the coming year.