From September 2015, Ofsted will only use directly employed inspectors to inspect schools and colleges and will no longer use third-party contractors. Currently, most inspectors are employed by outsourced private contractors. Ofsted believes that the changes will mean direct control over the “selection, training and quality assurance” of inspectors. Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has …
Since 2009 the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has seen a 130% increase in adult social care complaints. Last year there were almost 2,500 complaints which was a 13.8% increase on the previous year. According to the ombudsman’s 2013 review, more complaints are made about assessment and care planning than any other issue. Last year, 442 …
During CQC’s board meeting last week, figures were presented which showed that CQC enforcement actions issued to NHS trusts increased significantly. Between 2012 and 2013 CQC issued 21 enforcement actions to NHS trusts which increased to 73 enforcement actions between 2013 and 2014. The increase in enforcement activity follows publication of last year’s Francis report, …
Doctors have rejected calls to charge patients for GP visits. During the British Medical Association’s annual conference, delegates voted against the idea but warned that services were being stretched so much that care was being put at risk. During the debate on charging, which comes after some GPs call for charges of between £10 and …
Doctors have said that efforts to redirect patients away from busy A&E departments will not work. According to The College of Emergency Medicine review of more than 3,000 patients, only 15% of patients could have been treated in the community. Last year NHS England suggested 25% of patients could be treated in the community and …
On Monday, CQC hosted its first round table discussion on covert surveillance. Representatives and professionals from across the adult social care sector attended the discussion. The purpose of the debate was to provide an opportunity to discuss the use of hidden cameras including its role in exposing poor care. CQC explained on its website that …
The NMC is consulting on a draft revised Code for nurses. ‘The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives’, is currently in the second stage of a two-part six month public consultation. The NMC are keen to hear views from patients and the public about what the Code should include. The …
The Court of Protection has ruled that the human rights of a woman with dementia were breached when she was moved from her own home to a care home. A judge ruled that Milton Keynes Council failed to get proper authorisation and that the handling of the case was “woefully inadequate.” The local authority alleged …
A joint audit into the standards of end of life care in hospitals in England by the Royal College of Physicians and the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool has reported deep concerns. The audit looked at data from 131 Trusts (90% of those eligible) and found significant variations in care across hospitals in England. …
Baroness Kingsmill, the Labour peer tasked with leading the Kingsmill review into exploitation in the care sector, warns that exploitation of care workers is leaving the elderly and vulnerable at risk. The report describes a “toxic combination of conditions” for nursing home and homecare staff meaning that frail, elderly people are not receiving vital help. …
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