The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator of all health and social care services in England. The CQC is a merger of three previous organisations and was set up in 2009.
The regulator currently regulates more than 21,000 healthcare providers, including hospitals and care homes, but it has recently faced criticism following a series of critical reports branding the CQC’s performance to date a ‘failure’.
Reports by the House of Commons Health Committee, the National Audit Office and a public inquiry into the failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust have raised concerns about the leadership, culture and governance of the regulator.
The reports highlight a lack of inspections, a failure to fill key roles and the closure of a dedicated whistleblower hotline.
Nothing is more important than patient safety
The MPs' report criticises the CQC for failing to protect people from poor and unsafe care, raising particular concern about the regulator's ability to register and assess 10,000 GP practices this year.
The Department of Health said that they had increased the funding for more inspectors and they were trying to address the problems in the CQC.
A spokesperson for the CQC pointed out that the numbers of unannounced inspections had risen and that they were delivering benefits for patients.
Anne Osborn, a solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors’ Clinical Negligence Unit said: “Failings by the healthcare regulator are concerning, and mean that people may well be receiving below standard care. The steps being taken should improve matters, but nothing is more important than patient safety.”
Concerned about negligent medical treatment or diagnoses? Talk to us for advice and support today.
Our discreet and compassionate medical negligence solicitors are experienced in the full range of medical injury claims and will work with you to establish whether you have a medical negligence compensation claim.
If you, or a loved one, think you have suffered medical negligence, such as a birth injury (for example, a cerebral palsy diagnosis following a difficult birth), misdiagnosis (such as cancer misdiagnosis), or suffered negligence during an operation contact us for advice.
If the incident happened more than three years ago, you will usually not be able to make a claim for compensation. However, exceptions do apply – such as instances where you could not have reasonably known your symptoms were caused by clinical negligence, or cases involves adults who lack legal capacity or children – so contact us for advice.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.