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HEALTH FAILURES STILL AILING

Most ‘unacceptable’ NHS services ‘have not improved in the past year’

Second inspections revealed 46% had not improved their care rating while 10% had got worse

MORE than half of failing NHS hospitals, care homes and GP practices have got worse or made no improvement since being inspected by watchdogs, according to official figures.

Last year the Care Quality Commission revealed an “unacceptable level of poor care” after carrying out national Ofsted-style ratings on thousands of providers.

Doctors and nurses walking in hospital corridor. Image shot 2009. Exact date unknown.
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Last year an Ofsted-style inspection revealed an 'unacceptable' level of care in NHS services, and it has not improved sinceCredit: Alamy

Since then, 3,353 have had a second inspection but just 45 per cent have improved their rating, 46 per cent saw no change, while standards had fallen at ten per cent, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The worrying statistics were published by the CQC in a report to its board. They come ahead of its annual report on the state of the health service, expected to highlight a growing crisis in care for the elderly.

The CQC was set up in 2009 and is supposed to drive up standards in healthcare through a programme of inspections.

Doctor giving needle to young girl in exam room
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Many have had a second inspection but 46% had not improved standards while 10% had seen them slip againCredit: Alamy

 

The organisation has a legal duty to help providers improve when it uncovers unacceptable standards.

In August, the CQC announced it was launching a review into why so few care providers managed to improve after damning reports.

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