Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the effectiveness of (a) inspections and (b) training standards of care among NHS staff.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 all providers of regulated activities must register with the CQC and ensure they meet the fundamental standards of safety and quality. The CQC monitors and inspects providers and failure to comply with some of the fundamental standards is an offence. Under the Act, the CQC has a range of enforcement powers to ensure providers offer care that is safe and meets people’s needs.

Professional regulators set the standards of education and training for regulated professions and approve courses and education providers to ensure that training meets these standards. This includes assurance of the quality of any clinical placements.