New regime forces NHS Trusts to improve
A new compulsory registration scheme which was brought into force on April 1 requires all NHS Trusts to apply for a licence from healthcare regulator the Care Quality Commission. For the first time the CQC can impose fines, launch prosecutions or suspend services within failing Trusts. Historically, regulators have only been able to urge ministers to take action.
The healthcare watchdog assessed all Trusts against 16 criteria which resulted in 22 being issued with conditions, following warnings about poor levels of hygiene, patient care and risks of infection. The attached conditions will mean that the Trusts can expect regular assessments. For the 12 Trusts with foundation status there are potentially more serious implications involving fines or suspension if they fail to act.
Foundation status has previously only been awarded to Trusts that can prove they are both financially viable and able to provide good services in exchange for greater independence. The CQC findings, which involve numerous Trusts with foundation status, have caused many to question how tightly regulated their performance has been to date and whether they deserve the title of top-performing organisations within the health service.
The new regime marks an effort by the CQC to show that it is not just financial performance they are concerned with but visibly improving the quality of patient care, and this time they have the sanctions and fines in place to make it happen.