The CQC is now the independent regulator of all health and adult social care in England and their aim is to make sure better care is provided for everyone, whether that’s in hospital, in care homes, in people’s own homes, or elsewhere.

The CQC has wider powers than its predecessor the CSCI and the new care regulator will be independently checking the services provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. The CQC also protect the rights of people detained under the Mental Health Act.

The CQC is there to make sure that essential common quality standards are being met where care is being provided and they have said that they intend to work towards improving care services. The CQC is there to help promote the rights and interests of people using care services and where there is cause for concern or standards are not being met or the service being provided is “unacceptably poor”, they have a wide range of enforcement powers to take action, up to and including closing down the offending service provider.

A link to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website can be found here

Alternatively they can be contacted as follows:

CQC Telephone: 03000 616161
Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk
Care Quality Commission
St Nicholas Building
St Nicholas Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1NB

Cynthia Bower is currently Chief Executive of NHS West Midlands. She has previously held posts as chief executive of a community health trust and a primary care trust.

CQC will come into being in April 2009 and will be the new health and social care regulator replacing the work done by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission.

News reported by The CSCI