Mid Staffordshire public inquiry

Find out more about CQC's participation in the public inquiry into the commissioning, supervisory and regulatory organisations monitoring Mid Staffordshire (Mid Staffs) NHS Foundation Trust.

Core participant

The Care Quality Commission is a core participant in the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry. Core participants are organisations whose evidence is seen by the Inquiry as central to its work and who will play a central part in providing evidence and guidance to the Inquiry.

We welcome the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience to assist Robert Francis QC and his team. Staff from CQC will be in regular attendance at the Inquiry in order to learn first hand from the issues raised.

CQC staff have been gathering evidence on behalf of the Inquiry by examining thousands of documents about the trust dating back to the Healthcare Commission. The most relevant of these – selected according to criteria agreed with the Inquiry – will be submitted to the Inquiry.

Our evidence to the Inquiry

CQC’s opening statement described the basis of its functions and powers, explained the system of regulation in place before CQC was set up, in the transition and since April 2009.

We emphasised that our approach to regulation uses the direct experiences of people using services as a primary source of information.

We also told the Inquiry that our wide range of enforcement powers enable us to respond quickly and effectively to concerns.

Mid Staffs Inquiry: Our opening statement

26.52 KB

Senior CQC staff began giving evidence to the inquiry in the week beginning 16 May.

Chair Jo Williams was the first to appear in person before Robert Francis QC. She was followed by our Director of Operations Amanda Sherlock, our Director of Intelligence Richard Hamblin, our West Midlands Regional Director Andrea Gordon and our Chief Executive Cynthia Bower. They are explaining CQC’s approach to regulation.

The inquiry has also been taking evidence from former Healthcare Commission staff including former Chief Executive Anna Walker and former Head of Investigations Nigel Ellis. Healthcare Commission evidence was also presented by the Chair, Sir Ian Kennedy.

Cynthia Bower and Andrea Gordon have already appeared before the inquiry, answering questions in relation to their previous jobs at the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority, and the Healthcare Commission respectively.

Transcripts of all the completed sessions and witness statements are available on the Inquiry’s website.

Francis inquiry website (opens in new window)