CQC plans to test quality of NHS across whole local areas

The way the NHS is regulated could change to include reviews of services across whole healthcare areas rather than regular separate inspections of each part of the NHS, under plans by the main NHS regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A “lighter touch” approach to regulating general practice may also be a feature of the new system being considered.

The CQC has announced that it will run “Quality of Care in a Place” pilots (www.cqc.org.uk/content/quality-care-place), consisting of place based inspections in two areas—Greater Manchester and North Lincolnshire—to test how well coordinated health and care services are in local areas. …