CQC publishes NHS declarations on core standards

The Care Quality Commission has published the declarations that NHS Trusts have made on whether they are meeting the 24 ‘Core Standards for Better Health’. The Standards will be used from 2010 to determine whether or not health organisations are fit to be registered with the CQC. The 24 Standards cover all aspects of an NHS Trust’s commitment to its patients and include areas such as infection control, patient safety and a patient’s involvement in their own care. You can read the Standards in full along with the CQC’s report at their website as well as looking up the declarations made by your local Trust. The Patients Association has greeted the CQC’s report with concern, stating that it does not feel that patient safety has been made a big enough priority. Director Katherine Murphy comments: ‘The public mantra of those leading the NHS is still not the reality for patients. Whilst overall there have been improvements, standards have got worse on patient safety when we are being told it is the number one priority of the NHS.’