The NHS Confederation generally supports the direction of travel of the annual health check system for regulating NHS organisations. We welcome the introduction of self-declaration and risk-based inspection as part of the system.
The system is designed to create a light-touch regulatory framework that incentivises health bodies to improve service quality. Whereas the old system of star ratings was criticised as bureaucratic because it involved inspection of all trusts, the new annual health check is based on health bodies declaring compliance with core standards. This self-declaration forms the basis of Healthcare Commission risk-based inspection.
However we are concerned about the pressure on NHS organisations to deliver and the burden placed on them by the cumbersome processes of the regulatory framework. We are also concerned the introduction of developmental standards will compound these pressures and welcome the decision to initially introduce them in shadow form only.
The NHS Confederation is monitoring the progress of the concordat between regulatory and inspection bodies to reduce the bureaucratic burden and is undertaking a project with the Foundation Trust Network to measure the regulatory burden on NHS organisations.
The NHS Confederation regularly meets with the Healthcare Commission to represent members' views and influence the shape of the new system. Through NHS Employers we also represent employers' views on the annual health check.
More details of our work programme can be found in the sections on regulation and public confidence.
How we involve members
We are collating members' views on the Department of Health consultation on the framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers. Forums and seminars give members the opportunity to meet with the Healthcare Commission and communicate their concerns and experiences of the annual health check. To become involved in our regulation work programme please contact Claire Mallett.
NHS Confederation policy
The NHS Confederation provided a response, based on the different views across our membership, to developing the annual health check in 2008/09. We also fed back member views while the new assessment framework was being developed.
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Reducing the regulatory burden
The NHS Confederation and Independent Healthcare Advisory Services have established a provider advisory group to take practical steps on reducing bureaucracy in the NHS, following publication of our bureaucratic burden in the NHS report in 2007.
Registration standards framework
Regulation of health and social care in England is changing. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 establishes a new single regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and a unified regulatory regime for all providers of health and adult social care.
