Press release: NHS Confederation backs vision for new health watchdog

25 Jun 2003

The NHS Confederation today welcomed Sir Ian Kennedy's proposals for the new Commission for Health Audit and Inspection.

Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said: 
 "We warmly welcome Sir Ian's recognition of the need for inspection not to be a bureaucratic burden on the NHS.   The creation of CHAI represents a rationalisation of the crowded field of NHS audit and inspection.
 "The move towards a system of local self assessment as the basis of inspection, along with Sir Ian's commitment to reduce the number of visits to Trusts is likely to be particularly valued and appreciated by NHS organisations.
 "We have long promoted the idea of Trusts being partners in a process of audit and inspection and the principles of 'intelligent information'.  This approach will be fairer to NHS organisations and be more likely to lead to an improvement in the quality of services and accountability to local communities.
 "The concept of a 'local presence' for CHAI needs to be thought through carefully. We need to ensure that a crowded national field of inspectors is not simply replaced with a crowded local field of inspectors.
 "We believe that clear standards are vital for the NHS. Equally important for Trusts is that CHAI has a clear set of criteria for audit and inspection.  We will work closely with CHAI on how the new inspection processes will actually operate in practice and how his vision can be turned into reality."

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in
2. In 2002, the NHS Confederation published "Reviewing the Reviewers" which focused on experiences of NHS Trusts where clinical governance reviews had been carried out by CHI in 2001. The report identified areas of concern and made recommendations for improvement. The study has now been repeated for organisations who have been reviewed by CHI and whose reports were published during 2002. Copies of "Re-reviewing the Reviewers" are available from the Press Office.
3. Connecting 2003, the NHS Confederation annual conference and exhibition is currently being held in Glasgow, 25-27 June.
   

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