Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which gave Members a brief overview of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) new inspection regime for mental health hospitals and community services and as part of this process sought feedback from the Board in relation to Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

        The Board was advised that CQC was currently undertaking a radical review of how they inspected mental health hospitals and community services. The new inspections would involve significantly larger inspection teams which would include clinical and other experts, and trained members of the public. The teams would spend longer inspecting hospitals and community locations that delivered mental health services. It was reported that the teams would examine key service areas and others if necessary.

        The Board was further advised that CQC would make better use of information and evidence, using new surveillance indicators and information from partners to guide their teams on where and what to inspect.  Their new approach would aim to answer five key questions about an organisation and each inspection would provide the public with a clear picture of the quality of care, exposing poor and mediocre care and highlighting good care.  Hospitals would be rated as outstanding; good; require improvement; or inadequate.

It was reported that CQC had requested feedback regarding Bridgewater in advance of their inspection. Bridgewater’s inspection was due to commence on 3 February 2014.  CQC had requested feedback which was relevant to the quality of care provided at Bridgewater and any of the services it provided. This included evidence of high-quality care as well as concerns identified.

Furthermore, it was reported that in the period before the inspection, the inspection team would make contact with the local scrutiny committees covering Bridgewater to discuss any information that was being held.  The feedback provided would be considered before the inspection to help identify any current issues or concerns, and any additional services which CQC may look at during their inspection of the Trust. They would not publish the information that had been sent unless they discussed it with the Board in the first instance.

In conclusion, it was reported that after each inspection had been completed, the Chair of the inspection team would hold a quality summit with the Trust and local partners to share the inspection findings and to focus on next steps where action was required.

          After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a report on the role and function of the CQC would be brought to the next meeting of the Board.

          It was reported that Bridgewater did not include Runcorn on maps that had been printed on their literature/publications.  In reply, it was reported that this matter would be looked into.

It was reported that comments on the report should be sent via email to Sue Wallace Bonner or Jan Snodden.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the report and comments raised be noted: and

(2)        the Board provide feedback on the services etc provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust as part of the CQC inspection process.