The new standards watchdog for the National Health Service - the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) - began work on November 1.
The commission has been established by the Government to promote good practice and to help ensure high quality care in every hospital and primary care group in England and Wales. It is independent of NHS trusts and health authorities.
The Department of Health said on October 28 that the commission would: monitor the quality of care and listen to the experience of patients and make sure their complaints are dealt with properly; carry out reviews of key priority areas including cancer, coronary heart disease and mental health (cancer will be first); help make sure that the NHS is using the most up-to-date health technologies and new drugs as recommended in national guidelines; and require all consultants to participate in outside audits of their work including the outcome of treatments and operations.
The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Alan Milburn) said on October 28: "For the first time in over 50 years the NHS will be subject to external scrutiny. We owe it to patients to make sure that quality is upheld in all parts of the country. . . . The commission will put the needs of patients centre stage. it is radical and it is right."
Multi-disciplinary teams including doctors, nurses and health professionals will carry out the reviews. The commission will review every hospital and primary care group within the next four years and publish the results.