Health Secretary Declares Care Quality Commission ‘Not Fit for Purpose’: Urgent Reforms Demanded After Damning Review

Health Secretary Wes Streeting Raises Alarm on Care Quality Commission Following Critical Independent Review

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has declared the Care Quality Commission unfit after an independent report highlighted the need for immediate reforms.

Political journalist @NifS

Friday, July 26, 2024, 09:

An independent investigation has uncovered substantial internal shortcomings within the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which are impeding its capacity to oversee health and social care organizations effectively.

A preliminary review conducted by Dr. Penny Dash has revealed that the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) effectiveness in spotting substandard practices in hospitals, care homes, and GP offices has been hindered by internal challenges. These include a reduced frequency of inspections, insufficient clinical knowledge among the inspectors, inconsistent evaluation standards, and problems with their information technology systems.

The study indicated that the regulatory agency struggled to accurately assess the standards of health and care facilities, particularly those requiring immediate enhancement.

The report also highlighted that social care providers experienced significant delays in the updating of registrations and ratings, which adversely affected local service availability.

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Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who expedited the release of the report before a comprehensive review expected in the fall, expressed his shock at the conclusions, which indicated that the agency was "ineffective."

He noted, "I understand that this news may cause concern for patients and their families who depend on CQC evaluations to guide their decisions regarding care options."

"I am committed to addressing this crisis decisively to ensure that everyone can trust the quality of care they receive has been thoroughly evaluated. Rest assured, this administration will not ignore any shortcomings."

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The CQC acknowledged the complete results and stated it is rapidly taking steps to "restore the lost confidence and transform into the robust, reliable, and capable oversight authority that both the public and service providers expect and merit."

In her analysis, Dr. Dash disclosed that 20% of health and social care providers have yet to be rated by the CQC, although the organization has the authority to evaluate them.

She mentioned that some facilities had not undergone a review in "many years," highlighting that the most outdated hospital evaluation dated back 10 years, while the oldest assessment for social care was conducted in 2015.

Dr. Dash received information indicating that certain hospital inspectors had no prior experience visiting hospitals, and a social care inspector had no previous interactions with individuals suffering from dementia.

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Mr. Streeting has committed to swift measures and enhanced supervision of the CQC, declaring that former hospital chief inspector Professor Sir Mike Richards will evaluate its evaluation processes.

The administration has committed to enhancing clarity regarding the evaluations of health and social care providers issued by the watchdog, and to guarantee that the CQC consistently informs the Department of Health about its advancements.

In the meantime, Dr. Dash has been tasked with evaluating all patient safety groups to identify any internal problems they might have.

She stated: "The findings in my preliminary report highlight the critical necessity for extensive changes at the CQC.

"By collectively tackling these shortcomings, we can improve the regulator's capacity to evaluate and assess the safety and quality of health and social care services throughout England."

"Our primary aim is to establish a strong and efficient regulatory body that will uphold a sustainable, high-performing NHS and social care system, as deserved by the public."

Dr. Dash has urged the CQC to promptly revamp its inspection and evaluation processes and to address its IT problems.

Explore further on Sky News: The NHS trust successfully manages its backlog. Junior doctors express optimism after a constructive discussion with Streeting.

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Kate Terroni, the acting head of the CQC, acknowledged the significance of the interim review, stating, "We fully accept its findings and recommendations, which clearly point out areas requiring immediate enhancement."

"Several of these points match the priorities we've set in our efforts to rebuild confidence among the public and providers. This involves improving our communication, enhancing our cooperation, and openly acknowledging our mistakes."

"We are swiftly and collaboratively engaging with our stakeholders to restore confidence and transform into the robust, reliable, and proficient regulator of health and care services that both the public and providers require and merit."

Ms. Terroni mentioned that the organization has pledged to enhance the frequency of inspections and boost the staff involved in registrations. Additionally, they are developing a new strategy for relationship management that will facilitate a more direct and steady communication channel for providers.

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