 From 1st April 2023 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have new powers under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022) to assess Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). CQC will start this work with a national assessment of the Equity in access quality statement. This will take place between April and July 2023.
This will provide a national overview of how ICSs are working to support people to access the care, support and treatment they need, when they need it. It will also report on how ICSs are responding to inequalities of access across their populations. The outcomes of this review will be included in CQC’s 2022/2023 State of Care report as a national overview and will not be recorded based on individual Integrated Care Systems. It will not result in any individual ICS feedback or reports and the review will not result in any ratings.
The quality statement, ‘Equity in access’ is part of CQC’s Single Assessment Framework within the Quality and Safety theme. The quality statement and descriptor are:
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Equity in access: We make sure that everyone can access the care, support and treatment they need when they need it.
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Descriptor: The system works collaboratively to improve access to health and care including when designing, commissioning and delivering joined-up services. This is supported by local inequality data, infrastructure and funding that matches resource to local need.
CQC will review publicly available data and information including but not limited to national data sets and public documentation such as ICS strategies, policies, and Joint Strategic Needs Assessments. There is no requirement for ICSs to provide information to CQC.
As part of the review CQC would like to offer the opportunity for key members of your ICS to take part in virtual focus groups to speak to us about equity in access. Participation is voluntary and findings will contribute to the national assessment. If you would like to take part, please email us on enquiries@cqc.org.uk by Tuesday 25th April 2023 and we will contact you directly to arrange.
In addition, we will also invite members of Healthwatch to attend separate focus groups to talk to us about equity in access.
You can learn more about CQCs new approach to regulation using the single assessment framework here: Single assessment framework - Care Quality Commission and more information about our ICS approach here: https://www.cqc.org.uk/news/our-approach-assessing-integrated-care-systems
If you have any questions, you can contact the team on 03000 61 61 61 or enquiries@cqc.org.uk or your local CQC contact for your ICS.
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