<2> Patient Safety Under Threat: MPs Urge Streeting to Halt Forced Merger of Agencies
<3> Concerns Over Independence and Effectiveness
The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on patient safety has written to health secretary Wes Streeting, expressing concerns over a proposed “forced merger” between the Health Services Safety Investigation Body (HSSIB) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The APPG, led by co-chair Jeremy Hunt, a former Conservative health secretary, argues that the HSSIB should remain a separate entity, rather than being absorbed into the CQC.
<3> The Importance of Independence
Hunt emphasized the importance of maintaining the HSSIB’s independence, stating that it is the only body capable of carrying out unconflicted investigations. He argued that this independence is crucial for the HSSIB’s credibility and effectiveness in promoting patient safety.
<3> Simplifying the Patient Safety Landscape
While the APPG supports the need to simplify the patient safety landscape, which has become “too diffuse and complicated,” they believe that this should be achieved through a different approach. They argue that the HSSIB’s independence and effectiveness should be strengthened, rather than compromised by a merger with the CQC.
<3> The