HC Deb 14 May 2002 vol 385 cc615-6W
Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many, and which, NHS organisations were inspected by(a) the Commission for Health Improvement and (b) the Audit Commission in 2001; and if he will make a statement. [46286]

Ms Blears

During 2001, the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) began 104 reviews of national health service organisations in England and Wales as part of its routine reviews of local clinical governance arrangements. A list of organisations will be placed in the Library. Further details are also available from the CHI website via www.chi.nhs.uk/eng/cgr/current2014;rev.shtml

CHI also commenced or was concluding four investigations during 2001, two of which are still ongoing. Further details are available via www.chi.nhs.uk/eng/inv/current.shtml

All NHS bodies are also subject to an annual audit by auditors appointed by the Audit Commission. This currently includes an audit of performance as well as the traditional financial audit.

Collaboratively, CHI and the Audit Commission published a joint review of the implementation of the Calman-Hine report on cancer services in December 2001. During the course of the review 11 networks, comprising 93 organisations, were visited as study sites. These will be placed in the Library.

We recently announced our intention to introduce legislation to establish a new independent healthcare inspectorate covering both the NHS and the private sector. The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will bring together the health value for money work of the Audit Commission, the work of CHI and the private healthcare role of the National Care Standards Commission. Legislation to establish this new body will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

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