Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral statement of 19 November 2013, Official Report, column 1097 and the answer of 8 October 2013, Official Report, column 104W, on Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, whether the Fit and Proper Person test referred to in that statement is the same mechanism as the barring mechanism referred to in that Answer; and when he expects that Fit and Proper Person test to be implemented.
Answer
The Government Response to the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry confirmed that the Government will establish a new fit and proper person's test for board level appointments, which will mean that the Care Quality Commission is able to bar directors who are unfit from individual posts at the point of registration. This will apply to providers from the public, private and the voluntary sectors. Where a director is considered by the Care Quality Commission to be unfit, it could either refuse registration, in the case of a new provider, or require the removal of the director on inspection, or following notification of a new appointment.
Further details will be set out in the response to the consultation on corporate accountability which will be published shortly. The Government plans to publish the draft regulations for consultation at the same time and to introduce the new regulations in October 2014.