‘Secretive’ safety findings set to be revealed direct to CQC

The Care Quality Commission may in future be notified when ‘secretive’ external reviews have looked at patient safety issues within trusts.

Last summer, HSJ revealed guidance for trusts to publish summaries of royal colleges’ reviews was being widely ignored, with some even failing to inform the CQC.

A recent BBC Panorama programme has again raised the issue, with Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chair Helen Stokes-Lampard saying she was “dismayed” the body’s guidance was not being followed.

But she has now told HSJ of “advanced discussions” with the CQC about changes which would see the royal colleges routinely inform the regulator when reviews raise patient safety issues.

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Source: HSJ, 3 June 2021