We welcome the publication of the Government’s response to the Francis recommendations

David Behan, Chief Executive, said: “CQC has made radical changes to the way we regulate and inspect hospitals. Our role is to ensure people receive safe, high quality care. To do this we ask five key questions: are services safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs?

"We are spending more time in hospitals, talking to more patients and staff; our inspection teams include doctors, nurses and members of the public who are Experts by Experience. Our teams of Inspectors make a judgment about the quality and safety of the care people receive based on the five questions and will give services and hospitals a rating.”

Professor Sir Mike Richards, CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, who is leading the organisation’s new hospital inspection approach said:

“Our new comprehensive inspections of acute hospitals cover eight key services: A&E; medical care (including frail elderly), surgery, intensive/critical care, maternity, paediatrics/children’s care, end of life care, outpatients.

"Our judgements are based on a combination of intelligent monitoring and what we see and hear when we inspect. We will always consider staffing levels alongside other indicators of the quality of care at a ward level. Staffing levels should always reflect the acuity of the patients being cared for.”