Enhancement of monitoring and the importance of inspection
The Care Quality Commission should develop a specialist cadre of inspectors by thorough training in the principles of hospital care. Inspections of NHS hospital care providers should be led by such inspectors who should have the support of a team, including service user representatives, clinicians and any other specialism necessary because of particular concerns. Consideration should be given to applying the same principle to the independent sector, as well as to the NHS.
- CQC's inspection teams for NHS trusts, from October 2014, are led by CQC inspection managers and include specialist professional advisers such as clinicians, pharmacists, nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, GPs, and health service managers. Inspection teams also include Experts by Experience — people with recent personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses health or social care services (CQC inspection team: NHS trusts, CQC).
- CQC's Experts by Experience programme transitioned to a single national contract delivered by Choice Support from 1 April 2020. Experts by Experience conduct conversations with service users during inspections, make observations, and provide perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked (Experts by Experience programme, CQC).
- The Penny Dash review (October 2024) found that CQC had experienced a "loss of sector expertise and credibility due to restructuring" as part of its 2021 transformation programme. The review recommended that CQC "rebuild expertise and relationships with providers" (Review into the operational effectiveness of the CQC, DHSC, October 2024).
- CQC announced in October 2024 that it would appoint at least three chief inspectors for hospitals, primary care, and adult social care, potentially with a fourth for mental health, in response to the Dash and Richards reviews (CQC response to Dash and Richards reviews, CQC, October 2024).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" in March 2013. Key reforms included a new Chief Inspector of Hospitals, strengthened Care Quality Commission inspection regime, a statutory duty of candour, and the fit and proper person test for NHS directors. Volume 2 (Cm 8754) contains the government's detailed responses to each of the 290 recommendations. See: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7cd486ed915d63cc65d167/34658_Cm_8777_Vol_1_accessible.pdf
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Penny Dash Review (commissioned May 2024) found significant failings at CQC. Health Secretary declared CQC "not fit for purpose". Key findings: one in five services never rated; inspection levels well below pre-pandemic levels; lack of specialist inspector expertise; 5,000 notification-of-concern backlog. CQC consulting on resetting its approach from October 2025.
Research published 2023 marking ten years since the Francis Report found mixed results. Structural and legislative changes largely delivered (duty of candour, FPPR, CQC overhaul, revalidation, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians). However, cultural change not fully embedded; understaffing, fear of speaking up, and poor complaint handling persist in parts of the NHS.
Clinical Commissioning Groups replaced by 42 Integrated Care Boards from 1 July 2022 under Health and Care Act 2022. ICBs have broader responsibilities for population health, bringing together NHS organisations, local authorities and partners. Implements some Francis recommendations on commissioning integration.
Government published "Culture Change in the NHS" (Cm 9009) reporting progress on all 290 recommendations. Key achievements: 19 hospitals placed in special measures; those trusts recruited 109 additional doctors and 1,805 additional nurses; 129 board-level changes made; excess avoidable deaths fell by 450 in less than a year.
New "Fundamental Standards" replaced previous CQC registration requirements from 7 November 2014. Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 introduced clearer minimum standards including: person-centred care (Reg 9), dignity (Reg 10), safe care (Reg 12), staffing (Reg 18), good governance (Reg 17), fit and proper persons (Reg 5), duty of candour (Reg 20).
CQC overhauled its inspection regime in response to Francis. Professor Sir Mike Richards appointed as first Chief Inspector of Hospitals (July 2013). New methodology based on five key questions (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led) rolled out nationally October 2014. Four-tier ratings introduced (Outstanding/Good/Requires Improvement/Inadequate). Specialist expert-led inspection teams replaced generalist compliance model.
Government published "Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) in two volumes. Vol 1 set out new actions; Vol 2 provided detailed response to each of the 290 recommendations. Approximately 204 of 290 recommendations were fully accepted.