Page 14 - IDF Journal 2023

IDF News – Spring 2023
Regulation Committee’s Report
Dr Phil Batty
Interim Chair, IDF Regulation Committee
James Mackay left as Chair of the Regulation Committee in 2022. He served for many years and fostered a healthy relationship with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), together with our advisor Martha Walker. I am most grateful to him for all his valuable work.
We asked the membership
of the committee if anyone wanted to take over as
Chair but everyone is understandably busy and there were no volunteers. I therefore chaired a meeting of the Regulation Committee last year to discuss the terms of reference and how to encourage new members.
It is clear that the Regulation Committee has an important role. The primary role is liaising with the CQC, however there are issues that overlap with some GMC matters dealt with by our Responsible Officer and Appraisal Committee,
and with issues to do with the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) which are primarily dealt with by our Specialist Committee. I am pleased that an e-mail to members appears to have generated two new volunteers to serve on this committee, which will aim to meet three times per year.
Meetings continue with the CQC on
a regular basis, and they have agreed
to present to members their changed inspection format. The goal of a portal where documents and work can be uploaded for live inspection is a positive step. I have expressed my concern that there are some inspectors that may
have unconscious, or indeed conscious, bias against practices in the private sector. I am assured there have been communications that all practices should be inspected in the same way, whether they are NHS or private. It is important to have a healthy dialogue with the CQC. If you have any specific concerns, please contact me.
Whilst the committee will miss James,
I am delighted that Martha Walker
has agreed to stay on to support
the committee and the IDF with their relationship with the CQC. We now have direct access to the CQC for concerns, which is thanks to Martha, but we continue to need her experience and support. We continue to look for members that are willing to serve on this committee. Please let me know if you are interested in joining the Regulation Committee.
Meetings continue with the CQC on a regular basis, and they have agreed to present to members their changed inspection format. The goal of a portal where documents and work can be uploaded for live inspection is a positive step.
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