An opportunity to reflect and look ahead: CQC publishes its annual report 2012/13

11 July 2013

The regulator of England’s health and social care providers, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) today (Thursday 11 July) has published its Annual report and accounts for the 2012/13 financial year.

The report outlines CQC’s activities in 2012/13 and its aspirations for the year ahead, which include introducing longer, more thorough hospital inspections under the leadership of a Chief Inspector of Hospitals.

The last 12 months saw the organisation undertake a fundamental review of how it is run and how it inspects health and social care settings in the country, such as hospitals, care homes and mental health trusts.

As part of this, CQC consulted on its new strategy for the next three years, which will significantly change to how it will regulate health and social care. CQC engaged widely and listened to people who use these services, health and social care professionals across the country, and its own staff.

Also in 2012/13, CQC:

Completed its inspection programme, by carrying out 35,371 inspections across NHS hospitals, independent health providers, ambulance services, dental care services and adult social care.

Created a bank of more than 300 expert advisors, such as doctors, GPs, nurses and midwives to contribute to CQC’s regulatory activities and inspections.

Involved Experts by Experience – i.e. people who use or care for people who use health, social care and mental health services – in more than 1,400 of its inspections. This is almost three times the number from the previous year and these trends will continue in the years ahead.

Registered more than 7,500 GP practices in England, so that they could be regulated from 1 April 2013 – a new role for the organisation.

Issued 910 warning notices to providers that were providing unacceptable care.

David Prior, Chair of CQC said: “We are clear that CQC’s purpose is to ensure health and social care services provide people with care that is safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality, and that we encourage care services to improve. Above all else, we will always be on the side of people who use these services and we will make sure that our judgements are completely independent of the health and social care system.

“The task ahead of all of us is to entrench quality and safety at the heart of care. I want to thank CQC staff for the immense hard work they have put into the last twelve months. While we are focused on a new strategy, this annual report is a reflection of their continued commitment and effort, all the while putting the thoughts and building blocks in place for the changes that must come.”

David Behan, Chief Executive of CQC said: “2012/13 has been a landmark year for the Care Quality Commission, in which we completed our inspection programme, registered all GP surgeries in England, and consulted on our plans to significantly improve the organisation over the next three years.

“We also commissioned the independent review of CQC’s regulatory activity at Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. This revealed how deficient CQC’s oversight of the trust was in 2010. It demonstrates my commitment to CQC being an open and transparent regulator and redoubles my determination to create a culture in CQC that puts patients and people who use services at the heart of what we do. We have used this report to inform the changes we are making to how we inspect and regulate services.

“Our annual report is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements as well as our failings, so that we can learn from them and move forward.”

CQC’s Annual report and accounts 2012/13 has been presented to Parliament today and is available to download from CQC’s website.

Ends

For media enquiries, call the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 during office hours or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

For general enquiries call 03000 616161.

Notes to Editors

Download our annual report for 2012/13 below.

For more information on our business strategy, visit Bigger, more expert inspection teams and performance ratings by Chief Inspectors