‘Inspection Overload’ For The NHS

The NHS is overburdened by inspections by at least 56 different bodies, a report has warned. The NHS Confederation, which represents 90% of managers, says inspection and assessment are important.

But it warns the visits by watchdogs and requests for information can be uncoordinated and place unnecessary burdens on the health service.

The government said inspection was necessary but that it was seeking to minimise the impact on the NHS. The government, and individual regulators, have made commitments to reduce the regulatory burden in the NHS.

But the confederation says NHS bodies say it has actually increased. The 56 bodies identified in the report range from the Healthcare Commission to the NHS Litigation Authority.

However, there are so many bodies which have a responsibility to inspect the NHS, the confederation found it difficult to identify the precise number.

An agreement, signed by 20 inspection bodies, is aimed at cutting disruption and duplication to trusts. But the NHS Confederation said it is weak because bodies do not have to sign up to it and, while it helps co-ordinate visits, it does not reduce the amount of evidence and information which needs to be collected.

The confederation called for the agreement to be strengthened and extended to all the organisations that have a remit to inspect, assess, request information from or monitor the NHS. It also wants the number of inspections and data collections within the NHS to be rationalised and driven down.

Dr Gill Morgan, NHS Confederation chief executive, said: “NHS leaders welcome meaningful regulation and inspection, but unsurprisingly they don’t like excessive bureaucracy. Regulation is not an end in itself. It will only fulfil its purpose if it helps NHS organisations assess themselves as a way of driving forward improvement and providing public assurance about quality and safety of the service.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “As the report recognises, there must be a certain degree of inspection to ensure that the NHS offers safe, high-quality care. But wherever possible, we are seeking to minimise the burden on the NHS.”

She said a new health and adult social care regulator would be set up next year to integrate sectors covered by three existing bodies in a bid to reduce the number of inspectors.