CQC Responds to the Government’s Dash Review Interim Findings into Their Operational Effectiveness
The interim findings of the government-led review into the operational effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), spearheaded by Dr. Penelope Dash, were published this morning, drawing a significant response from the organisation.
Kate Terroni, the interim chief executive of the CQC, acknowledged the review’s findings with a statement emphasising the Commission’s commitment to addressing the identified shortcomings. “We accept in full the findings and recommendations in this interim review, which identifies clear areas where improvement is urgently needed. Many of these align with areas we have prioritised as part of our work to restore trust with the public and providers by listening better, working together more collaboratively and being honest about what we’ve got wrong,” she said.
Terroni elaborated on the steps the CQC is taking to address these issues and rebuild trust. This includes a rapid enhancement of their new regulatory approach, which involves increasing the number of inspections to ensure the public has an up-to-date understanding of service quality and allows providers to showcase their improvements.
To tackle registration delays, the CQC is bolstering its workforce. Improvements to the provider portal are also underway, with a renewed focus on listening to feedback from providers and CQC colleagues to collaboratively design effective solutions. Additionally, the CQC plans to work closely with service users and providers to establish a shared definition of good care and develop a new relationship management approach for more consistent and closer contact with providers.
In a move to enhance senior-level healthcare expertise, the CQC has appointed Professor Sir Mike Richards to conduct a focused review of the single assessment framework’s effectiveness for NHS trusts. Terroni highlighted Sir Mike’s extensive experience as a senior clinician and leader of national reviews, underscoring his suitability for this critical task.
The CQC’s response underscores a strong commitment to transparency, collaboration, and swift action to improve its regulatory functions, ultimately aiming to better serve the public and healthcare providers.