Introducing Fundamental Standards Our response to the Department of Health consultation on proposals to change CQC registration regulations

The Department of Health consulted on the changes to Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration requirements, in order to introduce fundamental standards of safety and quality for care. The consultation closed on 4 April 2014.

The fundamental standards are intended to be common-sense statements that describe the basic requirements that providers should always meet, and set out the outcomes that patients or care-service users should always expect. All care providers registered with CQC will have to meet them.

They are one part of CQC’s regulatory approach which also includes surveillance of information and evidence, inspection; the use of indicators and ratings; as well as detailed guidance on how providers can meet the fundamental standards.

Health Foundation response

We are broadly in agreement with CQC’s regulatory approach and we particularly welcome a single set of fundamental standards. However, we have some specific comments about how the fundamental standards will support person-centred care.

In particular, we are concerned that the fundamental standards could represent a weakening of the existing standards that relate to person-centred care. We also believe the regulations need to include a standard in relation to collaborative care and support planning as part of ensuring a health service that is responsive to an individual’s identified needs and preferences.

The response sets out a number of suggested changes to the regulations and our rationale for the need for change. We believe that making these amendments will help to realise a set of clear fundamental standards that ensure providers are held to account to deliver services that respect service users’ fundamental rights, including the right to be supported and enabled to manage their health and care.