Health watchdog CQC accused of ‘cover up’

The healthcare regulator Care Quality Commission has been accused of covering up by a report

By Nicole Hamer |

12:43 19 June 2013

A report has claimed that the Care Quality Commission(CQC) – a healthcare watchdog – might have carried out a ‘cover up’.

The news comes after a number of babies died at Furness General Hospital, in Barrow, Cumbria, as the report investigated the way the CQC dealt with complaints about a number of deaths there.

The accusation is that the CQC perhaps supressed an internal review – one that may have shown failures in regards to checks of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.

Aspects surrounding Furness General Hospital reportedly came about in 2008.

Although, Morecambe Bay trust was approved by CQC three years ago.

The new report, undertaken by the firm Grant Thornton for the regulator, states that CQC supposedly quashed the review.

It is understood there could be an inquiry into the CQC, who reportedly face 30 claims of negligence.

Speaking to Radio 4′s Today programme, Chair of CQC David Prior said the news is ‘shocking’. He said: “I’m desperately sorry that this happened.”

Adding: “The board and the senior executive were totally dysfunctional.”

Mr. Prior said: “The report confirms our view that at a senior level the organisation was dysfunctional. The board and the senio r executive team have been radically changed.”