NHS Confederation viewpoint
From April 2010 NHS providers will have to pay an annual fee to register with the CQC. Responding to the CQC consultation on the proposed fee structure on 26 January, NHS Confederation chief executive Steve Barnett said: “Given the considerable debate about the role of the regulator in safeguarding the public and the costs and burden of regulation, we would have preferred that the CQC consulted with the NHS and other health and social care providers to develop an agreed work plan or operating strategy. Without this, it is hard to see how NHS organisations can be confident about the fees paid to the regulator.
“Although NHS providers have been told the regulatory fees framework will be cost neutral, it is not clear how this will be delivered. We are not yet convinced of the logic which requires NHS organisations to incur significant transaction costs in paying these fees and for the fees then to be reimbursed through a mechanism which has yet to be made public.
“Looking ahead there is considerable concern about the proposal to move in future years to a full cost recovery model which will inevitably lead to significant increases in registration fees for providers."
NHS Confederation consultation response
Our response to the CQC consultation draws on feedback from the range of providers of NHS care. The CQC's proposed fee structure only relates to the NHS from 2010/11 but our consultation response sets out the guiding principles we believe should underpin the overal registration fee structure for all health and social care providers from 2011/12.
Download our full response to the consultation.
New CQC registration system
A new system of registration is being introduced for all providers of health and adult social care services in England from 1 April 2010 and all trusts must apply for registration by 29 January 2010. The NHS Confederation is committed to supporting members as they prepare for the new system. Visit our CQC registration web page for more information and email registration@nhsconfed.org with any queries or feedback about the process.