Working effectively with the Care Quality Commission
Healthwatch England is formally part of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), although we operate independently. CQC has a duty in law to take account of the views and experiences of Healthwatch, and so there is an expectation that Healthwatch and CQC meet regularly and share insight and reports.
Contact with your CQC team
CQC staff are organised into local integrated teams including operations managers and regulatory co-ordinators, who are your main points of contact. If you require any assistance in contacting the CQC, please contact your regional manager.
The CQC and Healthwatch role in assessing local authorities
We have been supporting Healthwatch with their role as a key stakeholder in the CQC’s assessment of local authorities. If you have any questions about this, please contact your regional manager.
CQC escalation process
Healthwatch recently identified the need for a more robust escalation process for highlighting patient safety issues to the CQC. This was highlighted by your involvement in significant reviews, such as the Ockenden Review of the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, and the independent review of maternity services in Nottingham. Additionally, our response to the Thirlwall Inquiry focused on our actions around patient safety.
You can access the resulting escalation process and accompanying email template here.