Health and social care inspection bodies to merge by 2008
A single inspection body for health and adult social care is to be created by merging the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
The merger, which will take place by 2008, was confirmed last week by
Health Secretary John Reid. It is part of a wider Government initiative
to improve regulation and to reduce the number of “arm’s-length
bodies” under the Department of Health.
The CSCI regulates adult social care services provided by local authorities
and independent care providers, ensuring that they meet national standards.
The Healthcare Commission regulates the quality of NHS and independent
health care services and publishes reports to help improve services and
assist the public in making informed choices.
Howard Stoate, MP, chairman of a new all-party parliamentary group on
patient safety, said: “I welcome the integration of health and
social care services. Integrating the regulation of them makes sense,
too. I hope the merged organisation will ensure that patient safety is
of the highest priority in the provision of both NHS health and social
care.”
The children’s social care function of the CSCI is to be transferred
to the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). |
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