Reducing Duplication:

1

• Reducing Duplication
• Using information from the NHSLA in the
  Healthcare Commissions core standards assessment

James Lawrence, Det Norske Veritas Lisa Robinson,
Healthcare Commission
2
Overview

• The findings of others are an integral part of
  the Healthcare Commissions core standards
  assessment
• In 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 used the findings of
  others predominantly to target inspections
• For 2007/2008 significant increase in the use of
  findings of others for acute providers
• Using the findings from the NHSLAs assessments
  more directly

3

• 2005/2006
• We used the findings of others in the core
  standards assessment to cross check trusts
  declarations of compliance to target our
  inspections

4

• 2006/2007
• We used the findings of others in the core
  standards assessment to
• cross check trusts declarations of compliance to
  target our inspections
• 2. answer specific lines of enquiry in
  inspection, to reduce the number of questions
  asked of a trust (information from NHSLA and the
  Audit Commission)

5
2007/2008 We will use the findings of others in
the core standards assessment to 1. cross check
trusts declarations of compliance to target our
inspections 2. answer specific lines of
enquiry in inspection, to reduce the number of
questions asked of a trust (Audit Commission and
NHSLA) 3. provide adequate assurance that a trust
is compliant for a standard (NHSLA, PEAT, AC)
6

• Use of NHSLA findings 2006/2007
• The HCC used information from the NHSLA
  criterion to reduce the questions asked in CSA
  inspection
• Criterion were mapped to LOEs, where NHSLA
  schemes provided positive assurance
• Particular lines of enquiry were ruled out and
  did not require follow up in CSA visits
• NHSLA information was also used in cross
  checking to target our inspections

7
Use of NHSLA information 2007/2008 process

• Undertook a joint mapping exercise
• Identified standards/criteria with the same
  coverage or a significant amount of overlap
• Considered the remaining areas with some (but not
  significant) overlap
• Considered changes to the wording of criteria to
  further align the two regimes

8
Use of NHSLA information 2007/2008 Acute and
specialist trusts

• We will rely on the findings of the NHS
  Litigation Authority where this provides a level
  of assurance that a standard, or particular
  elements of a standard have been met
• We expect that trusts boards will also wish to
  rely upon this information when making their
  declarations.
• We will rely on this information unless we have
  serious concerns that a trust is not meeting a
  particular standard

9
2007/2008 - Acute and specialist trusts

• We will indicate the relevant standards and
  elements, in our criteria document for 2007/2008,
  where information from the NHS Litigation
  Authority, at level 2 and above, provides this
  level of assurance
• However, achievement of levels 2 or 3 of the
  NHSLA standards is not required by the Healthcare
  Commission for a trust board to make a
  declaration of compliant for the listed
  standards

10
1.Adequate assurance
11
2. To reduce questions at inspection
12
Next Steps

• Publish the criteria document for 2007/2008
• Evaluate the process for 2007/2008
• Use the same approach for other sectors, once the
  NHSLA has completed the 2007/08 pilot year
• Continue to look for other sources of information
  to use in the same way