The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is failing to implement patient safety alerts, with some Trusts more than five years past the deadline for completion.
A report by the patient safety charity, Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA), has found the CQC is issuing patient safety alerts, but is failing to act when Trusts do not comply.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that as of 30 January 2014, 141 alerts were past their deadline. In 13 instances, the deadline has been exceeded by more than five years.
Even the worst performing Trust – which has failed to comply with seven patient safety alerts – has not received a word of warning from the CQC or any other regulatory bodies.
CQC turning “a blind eye”
Peter Walsh, chief executive of AvMA, said: “Patients have the right to expect 100% compliance when it comes to patient safety alerts. These alerts deal with literally life and death issues and are meant to be mandatory.
“It is a scandal that some Trusts are still prepared to ignore them and that the CQC and others have turned a blind eye.”
Professor Brian Toft OBE, Professor Emeritus of Patient Safety at Coventry University, said: “Patient safety alerts are issued to keep patients from suffering avoidable harm and it is shocking to find that the Care Quality Commission is not taking strident action against those who do not comply.”
Patient safety
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