CQC response to the Department of Health review of GP out-of-hours services, published today (Thursday).

The Care Quality Commission’s chief executive, Cynthia Bower, said: “It is absolutely critical that NHS trusts put monitoring of the safety of out-of-hours services higher up their agenda.

“Our work has suggested that the quality of monitoring has been variable.

“The wide-ranging recommendations in this report will help address these concerns. Commissioners and providers of out-of-hours services across the country must implement them swiftly for the benefit of local people.

“CQC’s enquiries into out-of-hours provider Take Care Now are nearing completion. We will be reporting our full findings in due course and we will make further comments on this issue at that time.”

-ends-

About CQC’s review of TCN

CQC’s review of out-of-hours care provided by TCN was triggered by the death of Mr David Gray, a patient treated by an out-of-hours locum doctor from Germany who died following the administration of 100mg of diamorphine.

NHS East of England, the strategic health authority, alerted CQC to concerns about GP out-of-hours services provided by TCN.

The CQC announced the scope of its enquiries in June 2009, outlining that it would look at Take Care Now's out-of-hours service. It is focusing on current systems, including contractual and monitoring arrangements between PCTs and Take Care Now, as well as changes made after recent incidents. The terms of reference can be found here:

http://www.cqc.org.uk/newsandevents/newsstories.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.content_view_1&cit_id=34923

CQC published its early observations in October 2009, following the initial phase of its enquiries:

http://www.cqc.org.uk/newsandevents/newsstories.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.content_view_1&cit_id=35381

for further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07817 232 143.