• National Audit Office publishes its audit of the Care Quality Commission
• Report identifies improvements but says CQC needs to overcome issues with the timeliness of some regulation activities to improve further
• We welcome improvements but say there is further work to be done to ensure that the regulator is providing value for money and operating an efficient inspection regime.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has released its audit report on the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which examines whether the CQC is taking appropriate action to address the risks to people’s care.

It found that although it had improved as an organisation, it needs to overcome issues with the timeliness of some of its regulation activities if it is to further improvement.

The NAO found that the CQC does not meet its timeliness targets for some of its regulation activities, such as registration and publication of inspection reports.

The report also sets out a series of recommendations for how the regulator should improve further.

Responding to the report by the NAO, the head of policy at NHS Providers, Amber Jabbal, said:

“Trusts will welcome improvements that the CQC have made and its focus on cost savings, but as the NAO have pointed out, there is further work to be done to ensure that the regulator is providing value for money and operating an efficient inspection regime.

Publishing reports in good time following an inspection and consistency in how inspections are carried out should remain a key focus for the CQC as it seeks to improve further.

“Publishing reports in good time following an inspection and consistency in how inspections are carried out should remain a key focus for the CQC as it seeks to improve further. As the CQC moves into its next phase of regulation, it will also need to strengthen its digital capabilities further if it is to meet its ambition of becoming an intelligence driven regulator.

“As the CQC seeks to embed this new approach, we would urge it to be realistic about taking on new responsibilities or expanding its role during this important period of change in order to avoid uncertainty for providers. Providing value for money should be at the forefront of the new regime, and it should continue to evaluate the fees that it charges providers in consultation with the sector.”