Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps care regulators are taking to ensure appropriate care for people with diets arising from philosophical or religious beliefs.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England and acts to ensure that providers take account of preferences and religious and cultural backgrounds when providing food and drink. Under Regulation 14 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, providers must meet any reasonable requirement for people with nutrition and hydration needs arising from their preferences and religious or cultural background. The CQC’s Assessment Framework takes into account the personalisation of care with regards to nutrition where providers are inspected and rated. The CQC has a range or enforcement options it can take against providers who do not comply with the regulations.