Airedale FT one of first inspected under new CQC regime

The CQC has set out its timetable for visits to trusts in the first phase of its new inspection regime, being led by the new chief inspector of hospitals Sir Mike Richards.

The 18 trusts in the first phase of inspections have been split into four groups, to be inspected over the remainder of 2013.The trusts chosen cover a variety of levels of predicted risk of not meeting standards set by the CQC, ranging from high to low.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is in group two and will be inspected from 16-18 October.

It has a CQC risk rating of “low”.

The regulator will publish detailed narrative reports for each of the trusts set out across the five key questions - safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led - for each of the eight core services the inspections will look at. It will also publish ratings for the three trusts acting as ratings pilots. These are Royal Surrey, Dartford, and Heart of England.

A paper published by the CQC for consideration at its 18 September board meeting says: “All key milestones for group one (Croydon, Airedale, Taunton and Wolverhampton) are on track: teams have been recruited (we have external chairs appointed to all bar two of the 18), data packs have been prepared to inform lines of enquiry, and all logistics are in place to ensure a successful inspection.”