Press release: NHS Confederation celebrates the abolition of star ratings

31 Mar 2005

The NHS Confederation, which represents more than 90% of NHS organisations, has welcomed changes made by the Healthcare Commission to its ratings system to measure the performance of NHS trusts.

Nigel Edwards, Director of Policy, said: "We hope that the new assessment system will reduce the heavy burden of regulation which has been placed on NHS organisations under the existing system of star ratings.
"As the Healthcare Commission acknowledges today, the current system of routinely subjecting all NHS trusts to a major review every three years has cost NHS trusts up to £150,000 but this new system should ensure that inspection visits are targeted where they are needed."

The NHS Confederation is pleased that its concerns about the Healthcare Commission's original proposals, raised during the 12-week consultation exercise, have been taken on board and led to changes in the new system which has been unveiled today.  

Nigel Edwards said: "Our number one concern when we saw the original consultation proposals was that 472 'prompts' could become a set of proxy targets and there was widespread confusion among our members about the role of these prompts.

"We are delighted that the Healthcare Commission has listened to our concerns, and those of our members, and removed the prompts from its final guidance to NHS trusts.

"We also believe that it makes sense to phase in the new system, starting with the 24 core standards only and moving the first date of annual declaration of trusts' performance from September 2005 to April 2006, because it is most important to get this new system right.

"The Healthcare Commission's commitment to bring the independent healthcare sector under similar standards over the next two years is a welcome development to ensure that NHS trusts and private sector organisations are operating on a level playing field."   

ENDS

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact details

1. For more information, please contact media relations manager Matt Akid on 020 7074 3306 or media officer Chris Atkinson on 020 7074 3304.
2. Out of hours, please contact the on-call press officer on 07880 500726.

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