A new government was elected in  summer 2024 with a mandate to build an NHS fit for the future. The mandate represents a critical step in responding to the issues identified by the Darzi investigation and addressing the urgent challenges facing the NHS. It also lays the foundation for longer-term reform to bring care closer to communities, prioritise prevention over treatment, embrace digital transformation and embed financial discipline in the system.

Several recent national reviews have also highlighted the necessary changes to systems and structures across our wider health and care landscape to remain focused on quality. Notably, the review into the operational effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was published in October 2024 and publication of a second review considering the wider landscape for quality of care, with an initial focus on safety, is expected this spring. Alongside these, the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has published its report into Safety management: accountability across organisational boundaries and other high profile investigations highlighting the need to address care challenges and refocus on quality.

More recently, government has announced a national restructure of key health organisations. NHS England will cease to exist and its core functions will be taken back into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). There will be changes to regional NHS England functions and to integrated care boards. Additionally, the CQC will modify how it delivers its role. These changes can pose a risk to the quality and safety of care. 

A shared commitment to quality

During this time of reorganisation, operational and financial challenge, the National Quality Board (NQB) would like to re-emphasise the importance of every organisation maintaining and improving the quality of care by ensuring it meets the fundamental standards of quality. We all play a part in ensuring care is safe, effective, positively experienced by all patients and delivered by an NHS that is well-led, sustainable and equitable. These commitments can be found in the NQB’s Shared commitment to quality (April 2021). This shared single view of quality is recognised across the health and care landscape. It sets out key principles for systems to adopt in delivering their overarching quality, including safety responsibilities, as well as consistent operational requirements for quality oversight.

Role of the National Quality Board

The NQB brings together arm’s length bodies across the health and care system to champion quality and drive system alignment of quality on behalf of NHS England (soon to be incorporated into the DHSC), the CQC, the UK Health Security Agency, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, the DHSC, Healthwatch England, the National Guardian’s Office and the HSSIB.

Quality guides and support

The NQB would like to remind systems of the guidance and tools it has published to support them. We will alert systems to forthcoming work and welcome suggestions for future work that will add value across the health and care landscape.

Available National Quality Board publications

• Principles for assessing and managing risks across integrated care systems
• Guidance on quality risk response and escalation in integrated care systems
• National guidance on system quality groups
• Improving experience of care: a shared commitment for those working in health and care systems
• Safer staffing guides
• Shared ambition for compassionate, inclusive leadership
• National patient recall framework

Forthcoming National Quality Board work

The NQB will continue work to support the following during 2025/26:

• development of a quality strategy, aligning with the NQB’s shared commitment to quality
• a review of system quality groups
• a review of system recommendations (HSSIB)
• piloting the NQB principles for assessing and managing risks across integrated care systems

Get in touch at england.nationalqualityboard@nhs.net

Publication reference: PRN01950