Articles & Publications

NHS England published an important document on 20 October 2014 which sets out both the regulatory and contractual issues which may arise following CQC inspections of GP practices.  It embodies the new special measures regime but also adds important detail about how CQC, CCGs and NHS England will work together in the oversight of GP …

Ridouts NHS Alert: An era of unparalleled scrutiny of GP practices: NHS England’s Framework for responding to CQC inspections of GP practices gives some much needed clarity to the sector Read More »

CQC’s enforcement action has ramped up a notch over the last few months.  At Ridouts we are seeing increased numbers of Notices of Proposal (“NOP”).  As well as proposals to remove locations, a popular proposal is to add a condition of registration to restrict admissions of service users.   Sometimes end dates for that restriction are …

Healthcare Business: Restricting admissions – how long can CQC sustain the argument? Read More »

There have been many well-publicised failings in care homes across the country recently, where institutional abuse has been uncovered. The advent of surveillance in care homes – far from being an invasion of care workers’ privacy – would enable transparency and accountability to come to the fore and restore the waning patient trust in the …

Ridouts Alert: CCTV is a must if carers are to trust and be trusted Read More »

One can debate the extent that legislation can ever truly change behaviour. Ultimately cultural change is driven by the values, commitment and ethos of an organisation’s leaders and workforce. However, placing an issue on a statutory footing does enhance its importance, particularly when it is expressed as a duty and is backed up by sanctions …

HSJ Channel, Insight and Influence: Start preparing. The new Statutory Duty of Candour is coming in from October Read More »

A new spotlight has been shone on DoLS following the recent Supreme Court Judgment in the Cheshire West case. This is likely to have a number of practical consequences for providers. This article sets out the background to Cheshire West and summarises the decision which was reached before examining the practical consequences for care home …

Ridouts Alert: The legal and practical effects of the Cheshire West case for care home providers Read More »

The legislative changes which will increase CQC’s enforcement powers and which are due to come into force this October will have a huge impact, not just on NHS providers, but also on the directors running them. This article seeks to give an overview of the changes afoot and sets the scene for a series of …

Ridouts NHS Alert: How will CQC changes affect NHS Providers and their Senior Managers? Read More »

On 9 April 2014, CQC issued for consultation its Provider handbook for NHS acute hospitals. The consultation runs until 4 June 2014.  The major change being consulted on is the new rating system for NHS hospitals.  The shadow ratings which are currently being awarded will be replaced by full ratings from October 2014.  What is …

Ridouts NHS Alert: The Care Quality Commission’s proposed rating system for NHS acute hospitals. Protection or punishment? Read More »

Most businesses (with the exception of health service bodies) providing care regulated by the Care Quality Commission (“CQC”) are subject to a registered manager condition under regulation 5 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 (“Registration Regulations”). Each regulated activity is required to be managed by a registered manager, and the Health and Social …

Ridouts Alert: Registered Manager Fit Person Interviews Mar 2014, Samantha Cox Read More »

At Ridouts we have seen an increasingly aggressive Ofsted and more and more clients are concerned about inspectors’ conduct and in turn the judgements reached at inspection visits. Ofsted give providers 5 working days after receiving the draft inspection report to make factual accuracy comments before an inspection report is published.  However, Ofsted are adamant …

Healthcare Business: Does Ofsted lack transparency and accountability? Mar 2014, Caroline Barker Read More »

The second wave of CQC’s new-style hospital inspections are due to take place between April and June 2014.  The results of the inspections will be scrutinised with great interest, as it is likely that if successful, the framework will be used as CQC’s inspection model across the wider health and social care sector in the …

Ridouts NHS Alert: CQC hospital inspections and ratings– the experimental phase begins Read More »