06 Jun InfoBLOG: DHSC / CQC REGULATIONS CONSULTATION
CHANGES TO REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE CARE QUALITY COMMISSION
Department of Health and Social Care: Published 26th April 2024
The government is seeking views on removing the expiry date of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and replacing it with a 5-yearly review.
It is also seeking views on proposed amendments to the CQC regulations relating to:
Treatment (not first aid) in SPORTS GROUND or GYMNASIUM, where it is provided for the sole benefit of persons taking part in, or attending, SPORTING ACTIVITIES and EVENTS.
Temporary arrangements to deliver medical care (not first aid) to those taking part in or attending, at SPORTING or CULTURAL EVENTS.
Some of the key headlines from the Consultation Document:
The ‘Background’ to the consultation is derived from the Manchester Arena Inquiry (MAI) Volume 2 report (recommendations 132 – 134); it was recommended the DHSC should consider: *the standard of provision of healthcare at events, *this standard being contained in statutory regulation, and *enforcement by a regulator
Additionally, the CQC is aware of significant risk in the provision of independent medical care at temporary sporting and cultural events. This unregulated care has, in some cases, resulted in serious harm to individuals receiving treatment.
At present the ‘treatment of disease, disorder or injury (TDDI) are not within the CQCs regulatory remit, for provision of treatment at sports grounds or gymnasium, or the provision of treatment under temporary arrangements to deliver healthcare at sporting or cultural events.
Removing the exemptions (which are the focus of the consultation document) will ensure providers carrying out the regulated activity of TDDI for the purposes of a sporting or cultural event site, will need to register with the CQC, and will, therefore be subject to regulation.
Hence, providers who only ever carry out activity currently covered by these exceptions, at present need not register with the CQC. Removing these exemptions will mean these providers will then fall under regulated activity monitored by the CQC.
DHSC has commenced separate but linked work developing a standard for the provision of healthcare at events. CQC will consider this standard, once published, when regulating the medical care (TDDI) at events following the removal of exemptions. Implementation due in the 2025 to 2026 financial year.
Full text of the Consultation Document can be found at:
Access to the online survey / response can be found at the end of the above document.
Consultation closes on 21st June 2024
NEMO’s Opinion:
If you are involved in providing MEDICAL COVER AT EVENTS, then this consultation is worthy of your time and consideration, and suggests that if you want to see EVENT MEDICINE regulation improved for safer models of care, this is an opportunity to express your thoughts via the ONLINE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT.
Were you aware of this consultation? What are your thoughts?
Engage with NEMO, email: [email protected]