Got this update in my inbox today. Until the end of March 2023 CQC will respond to only the most serious risks where there is a high risk of harm to people.
Arguably, this is a pragmatic approach given the backlog of inspections and delays caused by internal CQC restructuring. I am also relieved that inspections of maternity services and mental health providers will continue.
AIBU though to be concerned that "only the most serious risks" is a very very low bar?
What about the hundreds of overwhelmed services being run on skeleton staffing? Frequently, serious harms are only avoided because staff are doing insane amounts of unpaid overtime. An honest assessment would acknowledge that a significant proportion of our health and social care services are not safe.
I can't help thinking this is at least partly political. It's convenient not to tell the electorate that their local services aren't good enough.
www.cqc.org.uk/news/winter-pressures-health-and-care-services-how-we-are-responding