The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has made a commitment to address the shortcomings of its regulatory platform and provider portal, in response to two critical reviews highlighting their negative impact on staff and providers.
Dr Penny Dash’s interim report, released in July 2024, already highlighted IT system issues as a significant factor in the CQC’s failings. In her full review published on October 15, 2024, Dr Dash emphasizes that the underperforming systems are obstructing the implementation of CQC’s single assessment framework (SAF).
The introduction of a new regulatory platform since 2021 and the provider portal in 2023 have caused frustration and inefficiencies for both providers and CQC staff, according to Dash. Prof Mike Richards’ review also echoes these concerns, pointing out the serious negative impact on staff and providers.
CQC has responded to these reports by vowing to rectify the issues with its IT systems and improve the provider portal to deliver better support for regulatory activities. The organization is actively exploring alternative assessment methods to ensure timely reporting for the public.
The appointment of Sir Julian Hartley as CQC’s new chief executive reflects the commitment to addressing these challenges and rebuilding trust in the regulatory process.
