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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Super-regulator to oversee health | Super-regulator to oversee health |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The government plans to establish a new super-regulator to oversee health and social care in England with powers to fine hospitals and shut down wards. | The government plans to establish a new super-regulator to oversee health and social care in England with powers to fine hospitals and shut down wards. |
| The Care Quality Commission will have a beefed up remit to inspect and intervene at failing hospitals. | The Care Quality Commission will have a beefed up remit to inspect and intervene at failing hospitals. |
| It combines the functions of the existing Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission. | It combines the functions of the existing Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission. |
| The Health and Social Care Bill will also bolster professional regulation. | The Health and Social Care Bill will also bolster professional regulation. |
| Ministers say the new super-regulator is a key part of the government's drive to ensure safety, cleanliness and high quality in health and social care services. | Ministers say the new super-regulator is a key part of the government's drive to ensure safety, cleanliness and high quality in health and social care services. |
| The aim is to increase public confidence in services, and to deliver a consistent approach to regulation across providers from all sectors. | The aim is to increase public confidence in services, and to deliver a consistent approach to regulation across providers from all sectors. |
| Sir Ian Kennedy, chairman of the Healthcare Commission, said the plans offered a "sound basis for the future". | Sir Ian Kennedy, chairman of the Healthcare Commission, said the plans offered a "sound basis for the future". |
| However, he warned it was vital that work already undertaken to improve standards was not lost during the 18 months it would take to put the new structure in place. | However, he warned it was vital that work already undertaken to improve standards was not lost during the 18 months it would take to put the new structure in place. |
| Doctors concerned | |
| The government pledged to introduce a tougher system for regulating health professionals in the wake of the Shipman case. | The government pledged to introduce a tougher system for regulating health professionals in the wake of the Shipman case. |
| Former GP Harold Shipman is thought to have killed as many as 250 of his patients. | Former GP Harold Shipman is thought to have killed as many as 250 of his patients. |
| Under the proposals, regulatory bodies will be required to use the lower, civil standard, rather than the criminal standard, of proof. | Under the proposals, regulatory bodies will be required to use the lower, civil standard, rather than the criminal standard, of proof. |
| This could see doctors struck off the medical register on the "balance of probabilities". | |
| Dr Hamish Meldrum, British Medical Association chairman, urged the government to think again. | |
| He said: "The BMA is keen to ensure that patients are protected from the small minority of doctors who represent a threat to patients. | |
| "However, if a doctor is at risk of losing their livelihood then surely nothing less than the current criminal standard of proof will do." | |
| Another proposal contained in the bill would force healthcare organisations to appoint a "responsible officer" to work with the General Medical Council on cases of poor professional performance by doctors. | |
| Fertility update | |
| Ministers also plan a bill to update the law on fertility treatments, which has been in place since 1990. | Ministers also plan a bill to update the law on fertility treatments, which has been in place since 1990. |
| This will include provisions to recognise same-sex couples as legal parents of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos. | This will include provisions to recognise same-sex couples as legal parents of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos. |
| A Green paper will be published exploring options for reform in social care. | A Green paper will be published exploring options for reform in social care. |
| Ministers want to reduce the dependency of those who rely on social care systems. | Ministers want to reduce the dependency of those who rely on social care systems. |