News

Last week the Department of Health (DoH) launched a consultation into proposals to give a new defence against criminal prosecution for pharmacy professionals if they make an inadvertent dispensing error. The consultation will run until 14 May 2015. The DoH are also consulting on changes to the regulation of pharmacy premises. These changes will redress …

New proposals on pharmacy dispensing errors and standards Read More »

CQC has today published guidance for families, carers and those who use health and adult social care services. The guidance is intended to assist them in making appropriate decisions on the use of hidden cameras, or any type of recording equipment, to monitor someone’s care. The guidance reminds readers that the installation of hidden cameras …

CQC publishes further guidance on the use of hidden cameras Read More »

From September, Ofsted will inspect ‘good’ schools and further education and skills providers approximately once every three years, rather than once every seven years, in what the regulator has called a ‘radical reform’ as part of a bid to raise standards. Under the new system, schools that have been judged as ‘good’ will no longer …

Ofsted: inspections will be shorter but more often Read More »

From the start of February 2015, the Information Commissioner (ICO) has been given the power to subject public healthcare organisations to a compulsory audit. The ICO has welcomed a change in the law that will give his office the right to force NHS authorities to be audited for compliance with the Data Protection Act. These …

ICO given new powers to audit NHS Read More »

It has been confirmed that a major review regarding whistleblowing in the NHS will be published on 11 February 2015. A final report of ‘The Freedom to Speak Up’ review carried out by Sir Robert Francis has been sent to Jeremy Hunt for his review. It was announced in June 2014 that Sir Robert had …

Review of NHS Whistleblowing to be published Read More »

CQC has put three GP practices into special measures for the first time after uncovering ‘significant areas of concern’ regarding patient safety at practices in Reading, Liverpool and Sale, Cheshire. They are the first surgeries to be told to make major improvements urgently or risk being shut altogether by the NHS care watchdog taking away …

Three GP surgeries put into special measures Read More »

CQC and Monitor have agreed to strengthen its information sharing for the benefit of patients and to more effectively deliver its role. The formal agreement between the two bodies, outlines how the organisations will strengthen the way they work together or share information for the purpose of delivering safe, well-led and sustainable care for the …

CQC’s agreement with Monitor to deliver better patient care Read More »

CQC are keen to seek the views of frontline care professionals working in health or social care. Draft guidance has been published today for all adult social care providers, partners and members of the public to have their say about CQC’s proposals setting out how its Market Oversight scheme could operate. Commenting on CQC’s draft …

CQC’s draft Market Oversight proposals Read More »

The government is to consider a research report, backed by the Department for Education, which explores extending the Staying Put laws for children in residential care. The report supports children remaining in residential care until the age of 21. The report explores the prospective options for young people in residential care and the potential challenges …

Government considers report on Staying Put laws Read More »

The Department of Health has announced this week that all public and private healthcare organisations will be subject to a legal requirement to clearly display their CQC rating. The intention is to strengthen transparency and enable service users to make more informed choices about their care. The requirement is set out in the Government’s response …

Healthcare organisations required to display ratings Read More »