On the back of a news article in last week’s HSJ, the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Registration system for all English NHS Trusts to register by the 1st April 2010 seems to be causing a bit of a furor.
The new registration system is essential for ensuring standards of quality and safety across all of the regulated activities NHS Trusts provide. Trusts have until 29 January to submit their registration applications to the CQC - they face restrictions on the services they can operate, fines, and even closure, if standards are not up to scratch.
With other recent news stories about mistakes being made in medicines being given to children, patient safety and quality standards within the NHS are now more important than ever, and with the run up to the general election, no doubt even more will be made of these issues.
How is your Trust coping with the registration process, and what strain is this putting on your departmental resources? Are you on track for 29thJanuary? Let us know.