NHS Confederation Responds To Care Quality Commission Report On Standards

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 18 Jun 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Responding to the Care Quality Commission's report (18 June) of trusts' self declaration of compliance, NHS Confederation deputy director of policy, Jo Webber, said there is a great deal that is improving in the NHS.

But she said there is still considerable room for improvement and that the NHS recognises that.

She said: "Nine out of ten trusts have met at least 90 per cent of the performance standards expected of them and although only half are currently meeting all of their requirements it is important to remember that it was only a third as recently as three years ago.

"There has been a particular focus in recent years on areas like child protection and employment checks where It is disappointing to see standards are not improving but it should be pointed out that in these cases trusts are both being expected to deliver more and are asking more of themselves.

"It is also encouraging to see such a large increase in the number of PCTs declaring full compliance for both the commissioning and provision of services.

"These figures suggest that the quality of care that patients receive and where and how they choose to receive it is steadily improving."

Source
NHS Confederation