Care watchdog accused of worrying more for itself than their patients say MPs

It was reported earlier this year, that the Commons Public Accounts Committee believes the care watchdog (The Care Quality Commission) is more worried about its own reputation rather than the safety of vulnerable patients.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee accused the Care Quality Commission of attempting to silence its staff to prevent them from releasing crucial information about the organisational shortcomings.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee said that the watchdog had persistently ‘let patients down’ by failing to inspect hospitals and nursing homes to ensure they are safe, the MPs warned in a report.

The commission has been under pressure since May 2011, when it was reported that it had ignored the abuse of adults with learning difficulties at the Winterbourne View care home near Bristol.

This latest report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee warns of ‘serious concerns’ about the CQC’s ‘governance, culture and leadership’.

Margaret Hodge MP, chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said at the time: ‘This is a story of failure that goes right to the top of the organisation. The former chief executive has moved on but it is too soon to tell what difference that has made.’ She added: ‘The CQC completed less than half its target number of inspections.