NHS star ratings to end
2005 will be the last year for star ratings of NHS services, if a plan by the Healthcare Commission is approved.
The Healthcare Commission is an independent inspectorate body responsible for health services in England and Wales and provides an annual rating of all public sector health care services.
Doctors’ groups have welcomed the announcement as they have long complained that the star systems is overly simplistic, but can have far reaching ramifications for a hospital. A service’s star rating can determine, for example, whether it is able to gain extra independence from central control, for example by becoming a Foundation Hospital.
There will now be an extensive three-month consultation on what rating system should replace the stars.
The Commission proposes using a ‘broader’ measure, which would include standards that “matter to patients” such as safety and the hospital environment. This ‘annual health check’ would be based around seven key performance areas, set out by the Government, which would include aspects such as accessibility, public health, safety as well as clinical and cost performance.
It suggests there should be fewer routine inspections and instead spot inspections focussing on suspected trouble spots and greater use made of other relevant information, such as information gathered from patients’ forums.
In terms of the actual presentation of results, one proposed option would see them ranked from A to E on performance and one to five on potential; another would use worded grades – such as “very good” – in seven performance areas.
Explaining the rationale behind the proposed changes, the Healthcare Commission’s chairman, Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, said: “With our new annual health check we will build a richer picture of healthcare organisations. We want to hear from patients, the public and those working in healthcare about what information they would find most useful.
“We will measure what matters to everyone – following the patients’ journey from prevention to treatment. We want to promote improvement through our system of assessment while allowing professionals to get on with the job of looking after patients.”
The public consultation will end on February 21st.
Health Minister Lord Warner said he welcomed the broad thrust of the proposals. He added: “It will be important that, at the end of the consultation, the new system provides a clear overall rating for each trust which takes account of the issues that are important to patients and is easily understood by them and by the public as a whole. We support the commission’s approach of minimising the burden of inspection on the NHS frontline. We look forward to being able to approve a final version of the new rating system’s criteria, as we are required by law to do.”
