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23/06/2004
Plans unveiled to cut hospital inspection 'red tape'
The best-performing hospitals could get 'inspection holidays' in a move to free up more time for treating patients, the government has announced today.
NHS Trusts can currently be inspected by more than 30 different bodies, and many more can make visits. New measures announced today to streamline the process in England include: joint inspections to reduce the number of visits hospitals face; fewer and more consistent recommendations from inspection bodies; the possibility of inspection holidays for high-performing NHS Trusts; and schedules of visits to be published in advance so that staff can plan ahead.
Health Minister Lord Warner said the changes will mean "staff spend less time ticking boxes and more time treating patients".
"Inspections are of course necessary in the healthcare sector. They play a key role in ensuring patient safety, delivering value for money and driving improvement. But we need smarter regulation rather than more regulation. Inspecting bodies need to plan visits together," he said.
An inspection 'gateway' will reduce the amount of communication with the NHS and a new hotline will help staff to iron out problems with overlapping inspections.
(gmcg)
NHS Trusts can currently be inspected by more than 30 different bodies, and many more can make visits. New measures announced today to streamline the process in England include: joint inspections to reduce the number of visits hospitals face; fewer and more consistent recommendations from inspection bodies; the possibility of inspection holidays for high-performing NHS Trusts; and schedules of visits to be published in advance so that staff can plan ahead.
Health Minister Lord Warner said the changes will mean "staff spend less time ticking boxes and more time treating patients".
"Inspections are of course necessary in the healthcare sector. They play a key role in ensuring patient safety, delivering value for money and driving improvement. But we need smarter regulation rather than more regulation. Inspecting bodies need to plan visits together," he said.
An inspection 'gateway' will reduce the amount of communication with the NHS and a new hotline will help staff to iron out problems with overlapping inspections.
(gmcg)
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