Sandboxing - call for expressions of interest

Published: 8 August 2019 Page last updated: 12 May 2022
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The Care Quality Commission is inviting innovators and services using digital clinical triage to join its regulatory sandbox.

Trialling ‘sandboxing’ is part of CQC’s work to encourage innovation, quality and safety. This first round will look at how NHS providers are working with industry to digitise clinical triage.

Supported by Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through its Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, the sandbox is a space where providers can work with CQC to look at how new ways of working fit with regulation.

As a regulator, CQC's ambition is to encourage improvement, while making sure that safety is at the heart of care. This does not mean that regulation needs to be a barrier to innovation. As new ways of working develop, we want to support them to reach the best outcome for people using services.

Through 'sandboxing', we want to establish what good quality care looks like when new, innovative approaches are being used. We also want to develop how we assess such new services and give clarity about how we might register new or disruptive types of provider. This first round of ‘sandboxing’ will look at digital clinical triage, with other themes to follow later in the year.

Providers who take part will have the opportunity to learn from other providers who are exploring new ways of meeting people’s needs. They will also help inform how CQC works with their sector and looks at new technologies in the future.

Dr Malte Gerhold, CQC's Director of Strategy and Intelligence, said:

"Innovative technology is changing almost every part of our lives, including how we access and receive care. This means the way that we regulate health and social care services has to evolve too.

"Sandboxing will help us to encourage new ways of working by collaborating with innovators to understand what good quality care looks like when introducing new approaches. It also allows us to explore and communicate any expectations we have as the regulator.

"Working together we can examine new ways of working, mitigate risk, and achieve our common goal – better outcomes for people using services."

Find out more about CQC’s regulatory sandbox and how to apply

Working together we can examine new ways of working, mitigate risk, and drive good outcomes for people.

Dr Malte Gerhold, Director of Strategy and Intelligence