Care Quality Commission response to the government's health white paper

Published: 13 July 2010 Page last updated: 12 May 2022
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13 July 2010

CQC said the white paper confirmed its continued role as the quality regulator for health and adult social care. Under the proposals, the current risk-based regulatory regime will remain largely unchanged.

However, the white paper does set out a number of important changes for CQC.

  • Healthwatch England will be established as a new independent consumer champion within CQC.
  • Providers will have a joint licence overseen by both Monitor and CQC.
  • The NHS Board will take over assesssment of commissioning.

In relation to 'Healthwatch', Ms Bower said: "Anything that gives people more say in how care services are monitored is a good thing. We already work closely with local groups and this will formalise and strengthen that collaboration. There is enormous potential here to share information and get local people even more involved in inspections and assessments. But we want to be clear that Healthwatch should be a separate arm of the regulator. It must be close enough to CQC to influence regulation and share information, but retain enough independence to be a strong voice, constantly challenging on behalf of local people."

Ms Bower added that CQC would begin discussions with Monitor over the joint licensing system. Ms Bower said: "This year we introduced a tough new licensing system for essential standards of quality and safety. We look forward to working with Monitor to develop a joint licensing regime."

In relation to assessment of commissioning, Ms Bower said: "It's right for the responsibility of assessing commissioning to sit elsewhere, however no doubt we will still contribute a lot of important information. CQC's role is now clearly focussed on getting standards of quality and safety in place across the whole sector."

Notes to editors

About the CQC: Snippet for press releases

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.


We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.


We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.