NHS ‘does not need more money to improve’, CQC chief inspector says

CQC’s chief inspector has said that the NHS does not necessarily need more money to improve care.

Mike Richards, chief inspector of Care Quality Commission (CQC), told BBC Radio 4’s Today show that there are more cost-effective ways or running the NHS, such as dismissing ‘very expensive’ agency nurses.

He said that there is ‘no doubt’ the NHS needs more money because of ‘increasing demand on it and the need to transform services’.

But he also said ‘things can be done better without more money, and that’s what we are encouraging’.

He added: “What we have seen in our inspections is an awful lot can be done, even at times of austerity when the money hasn't been coming through fast.

“We have seen a number of hospitals actually getting better during that time, a number of mental health trusts getting better because they have focused on what really matters to patients, on patient safety and on the whole leadership agenda within these hospitals in order to engage their staff and deliver better care.”

Richards has called for more beds in the care sector, lessons to be learned from previous mistakes, and the NHS to spend money on a ‘transformation agenda’.

Mike Richards will be stepping down from his role at the Care Quality Commission soon.