With the recent report from Dr Foster confirming that special measures help drive improvement and with special measures now embedded in the new hospital inspection process, the Care Quality Commission has updated its guidance for the time hospitals can remain in special measures and the action it will take if trusts fail to improve.
CQC has confirmed that when, following a recommendation from the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, a hospital is placed in special measures by Monitor or the Trust Development Authority, it will carry out a follow up inspection, at the most one year later.
If that inspection judges that the hospital has not improved enough to exit special measures after one year, the regime will be extended by a further six months. At the end of that period, CQC will normally inspect again and if the hospital is still rated inadequate the Chief Inspector of Hospitals will write to the Secretary of State setting out the reasons for the trust remaining in special measures, the areas which require improvement and what improvements in quality need to be achieved. The letter will provide a transparent explanation of the challenges facing the trust or foundation trust, and inform decisions on a long-term solution.
As with any trust, CQC may inspect at any time if it has concerns about the care people are getting.