Ensuring assessment and enforcement of fundamental standards through contracts
In selecting indicators and means of measuring compliance, the principal focus of commissioners should be on what is reasonably necessary to safeguard patients and to ensure that at least fundamental safety and quality standards are maintained. This requires close engagement with patients, past, present and potential, to ensure that their expectations and concerns are addressed.
- NHS England publishes guidance on quality in commissioning, emphasising that commissioners should engage patients and the public in defining quality priorities and selecting indicators for monitoring. The NHS Constitution requires ICBs to involve patients and the public in decisions about the services they commission (NHS Constitution, DHSC; NHS England commissioning guidance).
- The Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) indicators are developed with clinical input and are intended to focus on areas where quality improvement will have the greatest impact on patient safety and outcomes. The selection of CQUIN indicators involves consultation with clinical experts and patient representatives (CQUIN, NHS England).
- Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations provide patient and public perspectives to commissioners. ICBs are required under the Health and Care Act 2022 to have regard to the views of Healthwatch when exercising their commissioning functions (Health and Care Act 2022, s.14Z36).
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.
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.
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.