Plans to shake up the regulatory and approvals process for health and care providers have been postponed as the NHS comes under increasing pressure.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has confirmed it has pushed back its plans to introduce a new assessment approach for providers.
It had hoped to introduce the new measures this month, but it will not now happen until later in the year.
The decision comes as NHS trusts and care providers continue to experience persistent pressures.
A CQC statement says: “Our strategic ambition is clear and remains the same – we want to drive improvements across the health and care system, helping to tackle health inequalities.
We need to make sure that we’re able to do this as smoothly as possible, particularly as providers continue to experience persistent pressures
“But we need to make sure that we’re able to do this as smoothly as possible, particularly as providers continue to experience persistent pressures.
“This means taking time to work in partnership with our stakeholders. It also means being clear about what is changing, and importantly what is not, so providers can be clear about what they need to do at every step.”
Under its plans for reform the CQC is looking to introduce a new regulatory approach for health and care providers, integrated care systems, and local authorities.
It will also establish a new regulatory leadership team to shape its priorities and drive improvement, and change how its operational teams are structured to better deliver its regulatory activity.
For providers, there will also be a new and improved portal.
The spokesman said: “While the new approach is developed, in addition to its regular inspection programme, the CQC will prioritise inspections in maternity services, as well as its ‘People First’ resource, which aims to help all parts of the urgent and emergency care pathway, and will continue to complete monthly reviews of services.
This will be the first step towards gathering evidence in a new and structured way that will help inform assessments, making it much easier for providers to interact with CQC
“For the time being, providers will not see any changes to their local relationship with CQC.
“From spring, however, the new regulatory leadership team will set out its priorities across its sectors and the new online provider portal is scheduled for launch in the summer.
“This will be the first step towards gathering evidence in a new and structured way that will help inform assessments, making it much easier for providers to interact with CQC.
“It will be towards the end of 2023 before CQC gradually starts to carry out assessments in the new way, using its new assessment framework, powered by integrated assessment teams and supported by new technology.”