New fundamental standards in England

The Department of Health are consulting on new legislation that will underpin the work of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England. They are proposing new fundamental standards of care as recommended by the Francis Inquiry. This briefing provides more details on the proposed fundamental standards and asks for your views on them.

The RCN supports fundamental standards, but we have made it clear that they need to be seen as the responsibility of organisations. The fundamental standards as drafted by DH do not yet make it clear that they are fundamental standards that can only be met through the interaction of practitioners and the wider workforce with those organisations that employ them.

For further information, please email papa.ukintl.dept@rcn.org.uk