Monitor (NHS)

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Monitor is the sector regulator for health services in England. It is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government. Its chief executive is David Bennett, who also acted as Chair until January 2014 when Baroness Hanham was appointed as interim chair [1] ..

The body was established in 2004 under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003,[2] which made it responsible for authorising, monitoring and regulating NHS foundation trusts.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012[3] gave Monitor additional duties.

In addition to assessing NHS trusts for foundation trust status and ensuring that foundation trusts are well led, in terms of quality and finances,[4] Monitor also has a duty to:

  • set prices for NHS-funded care in partnership with NHS England;[5]
  • enable integrated care;[6]
  • safeguard patient choice and prevent anti-competitive behaviour which is against the interests of patients;[7] and
  • support commissioners to protect essential health care services for patients if a provider gets into financial difficulties.[8]

Monitor's main tool for carrying out these functions is the NHS provider licence,[9] which contains obligations for providers of NHS services.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires everyone who provides an NHS health care service to hold a licence unless they are exempt under regulations made by the Department of Health.

Foundation trusts are licensed from 1 April 2013. All other non-exempt providers will be required to apply for a licence from April 2014.

Regulatory action

In July 2013 six NHS Foundation Trusts were placed in special measures as a result of the Keogh Review of patient safety:

One further Trust was placed in special measures in October 2013:

  • The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust

Details of the regulatory action Monitor has taken at NHS foundation trusts are available on its website: http://www.monitor.gov.uk/about-your-local-nhs-foundation-trust/regulatory-action/nhs-foundation-trusts-special-measures-or-un.

Stafford Hospital investigation

In 2010 the Stafford Hospital scandal investigation recommended that Monitor de-authorise the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.[10]

In line with the investigation report recommendation, Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Burnham, agreed to a further Independent Inquiry of the commissioning, supervisory and regulatory bodies for Foundation Trusts.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Conservative peer appointed Monitor's interim chair". Health Service Journal. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014. 
  2. ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/43/section/2
  3. ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/part/3/chapter/1/enacted
  4. ↑ http://www.monitor.gov.uk/about-monitor/how-we-do-it/how-monitor-regulates-nhs-foundation-trusts
  5. ↑ http://www.monitor.gov.uk/regulating-health-care-providers-commissioners/regulating-prices-nhs-funded-care/why-the-payment-sys
  6. ↑ http://www.monitor.gov.uk/regulating-health-care-providers-commissioners/enabling-integrated-care
  7. ↑ http://www.monitor.gov.uk/regulating-health-care-providers-commissioners/cooperation-and-competition
  8. ↑ http://www.monitor.gov.uk/regulating-health-care-providers-commissioners/supporting-the-continuity-services
  9. ↑ http://www.monitor.gov.uk/regulating-health-care-providers-commissioners/licensing-providers
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Robert Francis QC (24 February 2010). Robert Francis Inquiry report into Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. House of Commons. ISBN 978-0-10-296439-4. Retrieved 2010-02-24. 

External links

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