CQC comment on Panorama programme

With regard to the Panorama programme on BBC1 on Monday 8 March, Trust Us - We're an NHS Hospital, a Care Quality Commission spokesman says:

“This programme highlights some important issues. It is essential for NHS trusts to provide clear and accurate information about their performance, not only to the regulator but also to patients and the wider community they serve.

“We would stress that it is a trust board’s responsibility to ensure that the organisation is providing quality healthcare. That is why trusts’ assessments of their own performance are an important piece of the jigsaw when it comes to building a picture of performance across the NHS.

“But we would also emphasise that we do not just accept any assessment by a trust at face value. We rigorously check their declarations against hundreds of other sources of information, not least the views of patients, and we carry out spot checks if we feel it necessary. Indeed, as the programme shows, it is our follow-up inspections that have highlighted discrepancies between the trusts' own judgements and their actual performance as assessed by the commission.

“We should also point out that the reasons why trusts may declare inaccurately can vary – in some cases they are not as clear as they should be about what they need to do to meet certain standards.

“It is important to understand that the assessment process is about to get tougher. From 1 April, NHS trusts have to register with the regulator for the first time, and must meet new essential standards of quality and safety. At the same time we are moving to a new system of assessment that will be even more rigorous for the NHS. We will be using our data sources to monitor trusts' performance on a continuous, even day-to-day, basis, and we will have the flexibility to carry out unannounced checks whenever we feel there is a particular concern.

“In terms of the specific cases raised in the programme, we have had extensive dialogue with the Panorama team. As part of the registration process, we will take account of all the information highlighted in the programme. The outcome of all trusts’ applications for registration will be published in the next few weeks.”