CQC joins forces with patients’ charity to help stamp out poor elderly care

The and the Patients Association have joined forces to ensure concerns raised by people about poor care, can be acted on quickly.

The CQC, which regulates healthcare and adult social care in England, will be working with the Patients Association, so it can reach more people, and in particular gather more direct experiences about the care elderly people have received.

Through their joint project, the Patients Association will pass on to CQC any concerns from people who contact them so the regulator can take appropriate action.

The charity receives more than 8,000 calls to its helpline every year and has a network of volunteer ambassadors, who encourage people to share their experiences of care.

David Behan, chief executive of the Care Quality Commission said: “We rely on information from the public to help us target our inspections. This important resource helps us to protect and promote the quality and safety of the care patients receive.

“Our valuable partnership with the Patients Association will focus on gathering the experiences of elderly people and their families. As a number of recent reports, including our own State of Care report, have highlighted, there is a clear need to drive improvements to the care older people receive.”

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of The Patients Association, said “Health and care services must listen to the public when they complain about the quality of care they receive. Every day patients and relatives contact our helpline to report poor care. Working with the CQC is important in driving improvements in the care experienced by patients, wherever it is identified.”

The Patients Association Helpline number is 0845 608 4455. The Care Quality Commission can be contacted on 03000 61 61 61