DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by The Government News Network on 24 October 2007
Stronger powers to
help tackle Healthcare Associated Infections
A tough new regulator for health and adult social care services
will ensure good quality and safe care for the public, Secretary
of State for Health Alan Johnson said today.
The Care Quality Commission will have a key role in tackling and
preventing Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs), strengthening
the current system of regulation. They will have the power to
carry out annual infection control inspections, increase the
frequency of checks for hospitals with high rates of HCAIs, and
take rapid action to close down wards if necessary, making sure
that they are thoroughly cleaned before they can be reopened for
patients. They will also be able to issue early warning notices in
order to ensure Trusts take swift action when issues arise.
Alan Johnson said:
"Despite progress, tackling infection remains a challenge
for the NHS. I am determined that we will take action where
necessary to safeguard patients and ensure staff feel able to
report concerns.
"The regulator will have tougher powers to inspect and even
close wards in order to protect patients and service users. NHS
staff, such as matrons, nurses and porters, who spend every day on
the wards, need to feel able to report concerns to the new regulator.
"The Care Quality Commission will ensure that all patients
receive a safe and quality service, no matter what part of the
system they are accessing, and at which point."
The new regulator will focus on safety and quality across health
and adult social care services, in both the NHS and the
independent sector. It will provide a more consistent approach to
regulation at a time when more services are provided between
health and social care and will help to reduce administrative
burdens on frontline services. It will also be more flexible, to
ensure it is fit for the future as services develop and to ensure
that it can concentrate resources on the areas of greatest concern.
The Care Quality Commission will also have an important role in
supporting patient choice, through assessing and providing
information on the performance of providers of adult social care
and health care, and in ensuring value for taxpayers' money.
The Care Quality Commission brings together the experience and
expertise of the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social
Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission. Learning
from the experiences of the existing regulators we will put in
place a wider range of actions that the Care Quality Commission
may take to enforce the requirements for becoming and remaining
registered to provide healthcare or adult social services. Rather
than just bringing problems to the attention of providers and
government, the Care Quality Commission will now have a key role
in tackling it. It will take rapid and appropriate action against
any health and adult social care organisation that is putting
patients or service users at risk. The wider range of enforcement
options available will include:
- increasing the frequency of inspection, including unannounced
spot checks;
- undertaking investigations;
- issuing warning notices;
- fining providers; or
- closing services.
Alan Johnson added:
"I am determined to ensure that the distinct needs of social
care are recognised by the new regulatory body, and that it uses
and develops the expertise of the Mental Health Act Commission."
The proposals to create the new regulator are included in the
Department's response to the consultation 'The future
regulation of health and adult social care in England'. The
powers of the Care Quality Commission will be included in the new
Health and Social Care Bill, due to be introduced in Parliament
this year.
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors
1. The consultation response can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Responsestoconsultations/DH_078227
2. The Government will set the high-level requirements that the
regulatory body will use to assure the safety and quality of care.
The detail of these requirements will be set out in regulations
and subject to a further consultation.
3. The Care Quality Commission will regulate health and adult
social care services; children's social care services are
regulated by Ofsted.
[ENDS]
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