How safe are NHS patients in private hospitals: learning from the Care Quality Commission

This report uses findings from the Care Quality Commission’s new inspection regime for private hospitals to show that there continue to be risks to patient safety associated with the distinctive nature of private hospitals in England, compared with the NHS. In addition, the lack of systematic collection and reporting of patient safety data raises questions about the adequacy of the CQC’s new approach to regulating private hospitals.

* This report has been amended following a number of errors in Tables 1 and 3 of the report which were brought to our attention after initial publication.

How safe are NHS patients in private hospitals: learning from the Care Quality Commission

About the authors

Colin Leys

Colin is an emeritus professor at Queen’s University, Canada, and an honorary professor at Goldsmiths, University of London. Since 2000 he has written extensively on health policy. He is co-author with Stewart Player of Confuse and Conceal: the NHS and Independent Sector Treatment Centres.See all posts by Colin Leys

Professor Brian Toft OBE

Educated at the Universities of Lancaster, Exeter, Cambridge and Cardiff Brian Toft is the Principal of Risk Partnerships, Emeritus Professor of Patient Safety at Coventry University, visiting Professor of Patient Safety at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and holds several senior advisory positions including membership of the World Health Organisation’s European Regional Advisory Council on patient safety and healthcare.See all posts by Professor Brian Toft OBE