Updated guidance: flu and COVID-19 vaccinations
NHS England has written to NHS trusts updating on COVID-19 vaccinations. The letter sets out what the NHS and Government will provide nationally, and what is expected to be delivered locally by the NHS with local government and other partners.
We have updated our existing flu vaccination guidance to include COVID-19 vaccinations. The guidance includes examples of possible models of vaccine delivery and identifies if these are registration requirements, notification changes, or require no action. The guidance is available on our website. We have also updated our guidance that describes where services offering testing for coronavirus need to be registered with us or not.
If you have any questions about whether you need to change your registration arrangements you can contact us on enquiries@cqc.org.uk.
Changes to inspection reports
In line with our transitional regulatory approach, we are not returning to a routine programme of planned inspections, instead carrying out targeted and focused activity where we have concerns. To support this, we have made some changes to our inspection reports with the aim of reducing repetition and making them shorter while retaining important detail.
For larger inspections, we will replace the existing evidence appendix with an ‘evidence log’ detailing the evidence used to reach our judgements. We hope these changes will allow us to publish reports more quickly and will have benefits for providers and members of the public.
Transitional regulatory approach
Our transitional regulatory approach is now being used across the sectors we regulate. It is flexible, and builds on what we learned during the initial phases of the pandemic. It is not a return to business as usual, and our ability to re-rate is limited by the pandemic and our published methodology. You can find out more on what to expect from the transitional monitoring approach on our website and catch up on our webinar series on YouTube.
We have published streamlined key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) along with the types of monitoring questions we could ask providers. You may not be asked all of these questions, and inspectors may also ask about other key issues pertinent to your service.
We'd like to hear your views on the monitoring questions, which you can share by visiting our digital participation platform. We have separate activities running for NHS and independent healthcare providers.
Certification of training in restrictive practices
The Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards (2019) were published in April 2019 and are available on the Restraint Reduction Network website.
In August 2019 we updated that it was likely that use of the standards will be a contractual requirement for mental health providers from April 2020, and it would be good practice for other health and social care providers to comply.
Further to this, a letter to providers updates you on the standards (and certification scheme) and the action that your organisation will need to take as the requirement for certified training is introduced.
From April 2021 all services across health and social care will be expected to only use training in restrictive practices that is certified as complying with the Restraint Reduction Network training standards.
Read the latest letter to providers.
Latest patient experience survey findings published
COVID-19 inpatient experience
The results of our coronavirus (COVID-19) inpatient survey have been published. They show that most people were positive about the care and treatment they received in hospital during the first wave of the pandemic. But those diagnosed with coronavirus has poorer experiences than those without the virus - particularly in relation to discharge from hospital and access to onward services. Visit our website for more information, including a summary of results and detailed findings.
Community mental health services
The 2020 Community Mental Health Survey has found poor experiences reported for support and wellbeing, crisis care and accessing care. People reported they did not always receive support for physical health needs, finding financial advice or finding and keeping employment, which are all key drivers for good mental health. More information is available on our website, including full results by NHS trust.
Choosing a baby scanning service
We have published new guidance for people choosing a baby scanning service. It includes information on the types of scanning service available and how to check a service is registered with us. We also highlight the importance of routine diagnostic scans, making it clear that a souvenir scan is not a replacement for these scans people may have through the NHS or independent healthcare provider. Visit our website to see the guidance.
Monitoring the Mental Health Act report in 2019-20
We have published our annual statutory report on our monitoring of how services have applied the Mental Health Act.
This year’s report focuses on the impact that COVID-19 has had on patients detained under the Mental Health Act, and on the services that care for and treat them. The aim for this report is that the learning from the early stages of the pandemic can be applied as quickly as possible in the current wave of COVID-19 and any future resurgence.
Read the press release and the full report.
Podcasts: Emergency departments responding to COVID-19
Catch up with the latest episodes of our podcast, CQC Connect.
We spoke to frontline clinicians as part of a mini-series looking at emergency care through the lens of coronavirus. Covering some of the areas covered in our Patient FIRST resource, listen to episodes exploring:
In two further episodes, Chief Executive Ian Trenholm discusses this year's State of Care report, and Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care Debbie Ivanova, talks about sexual safety through empowerment.
Listen via Soundcloud or your favourite podcast provider.
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Out of sight who cares
In our latest Care Management Matters column, Debbie Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector of adult social care talks about one of our latest reports - Out of sight who cares. This focuses on the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in services for people with a learning disability, autistic people and those with a mental health condition.
You can read the column on the CMM website.
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COVID-19 Insight: Issue 5
In this month’s report, we build on the learning about good practice in infection prevention and control that we discussed in the last issue by focusing on care homes. We also present the key findings from a survey to understand the experience of inpatients who were discharged from hospital from April to May 2020, when the first wave of the pandemic was at its height.
You can read the report here.
NHS England consulting on proposals for next steps for integrated care
NHS England has published Integrating Care: next steps to build strong and effective integrated care systems across England. The reports details its vision for a more effective and responsive care system across England. It sets out how NHS organisations, local councils, frontline professionals and others will join forces in an integrated care system (ICS) in every part of England from April 2021.
The document sets out two models to meet this goal without triggering an unnecessary and distracting top down NHS reorganisation. They are seeking views on their proposals in an online survey, which closes on Friday 8 January 2021 at midnight. Visit the NHS England website to access the report and respond to the consultation.
Reviewing the use of do not resuscitate decisions during COVID-19
In October, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) asked us to review how do not resuscitate orders were used during the COVID-19 pandemic, building on concerns that we reported earlier in the year.
Since we received the request, we've been talking to a wide range of people and groups to understand their experiences and concerns.
We've now selected the seven local Clinical Commissioning Groups where we will be carrying out fieldwork for the review. This work will focus (but not exclusively) on the experience of older people and people with a learning disability or autism.
For more information on the seven areas, how they were selected and how you can help visit our website.
Strategy 2021: Smarter regulation for a safer future
Listen to a recording of our webinar
In our latest webinar series, we explored our transitional regulatory approach and our emerging strategy for 2021.
You can catch up on the webinars focused on mental health and other hospital services. The previous series exploring our strategic themes is on our YouTube channel.
Listen to our podcasts
Podcasts covering all of the potential themes for our emerging strategy are now available, including Meeting people's needs, Smarter regulation, Systems, Promoting Safe Care for People and Driving Improvement.
Listen via Soundcloud or your favourite podcast provider, and subscribe to hear the latest episodes first.
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Please do not send post - visit our website for details on how to contact us.
Guidance for providers and professionals working in healthcare services
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Follow @CQCProf on Twitter to get regular updates about the work we are doing with professionals and provider organisations in England.
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