29.07.20
New MoU agreement signed between CQC and NHS GIRFT
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the NHS Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme have a published a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement to help ensure the best possible care is provided to people.
GIRFT is a national programme launched by the NHS to improve care by reducing unwarranted variations. It tackles variations in the way services are delivered, shares best practice between trusts and identifies changes which will help improve care and patient outcomes, as well as delivering greater efficiencies.
Beginning initially as a pilot programme within orthopaedic surgery, GIRFT has since been extended to include more than 40 clinical specialties.
The new MoU agreement sets out how CQC will work with those leading the GIRFT programme to:
- safeguard the wellbeing of people receiving health and social care in England
- promote patient safety
- support improvements in care
As part of the new formal agreement, both organisations committed to ensuring the following qualities underpin their work:
- making decisions that promote people’s safety and encouraging high-quality care
- respecting each other’s independent status
- cooperating in an open and transparent way
- ensuring an efficient and joined up approach that streamlines information requests to providers.
In line with these principles, the agreement confirms the GIRFT team will regularly update CQC on the findings of their reviews of individual clinical specialties. They will also inform CQC of any safety concerns identified during those reviews, as well as sharing their final reports and recommendations with the inspection body prior to publication.
CQC and GIRFT will:
- liaise closely where providers are failing to implement action plans in response to GIRFT reviews
- cooperate to promote safety
- work together in the public interest to support service improvement.
The agreement will be regularly reviewed to make sure it is relevant, up to date and effective.