Government acts after report highlights failings at regulator
An independent review of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has identified significant internal failings which is hampering its ability to identify poor performance at hospitals, care homes and GP practices.
The interim report, led by Dr Penny Dash, chair of the North West London Integrated Care Board, found inspection levels were still well below where they were pre-COVID, a lack of clinical expertise among inspectors, a lack of consistency in assessments and problems with CQC’s IT system.
These failings mean the regulator is currently unable to consistently and effectively judge the quality of health and care services, including those in need of urgent improvement. The report also found that social care providers are waiting too long for their registration and rating to be updated, with implications for local capacity.
The government will now take immediate steps to restore public confidence in the effectiveness of health and social care regulation, including by increasing the level of oversight of CQC, ahead of a full report by Dr Dash which will be published in the autumn.