The terrible failures at Stafford Hospital were not about resources. They were about deep-rooted cultural problems that top-down recommendations will do little to change Read more
The Francis Report into the Mid Staffs NHS scandal makes some vital recommendations. But we should be cautious about measures that could undermine the aim of greater openness Read more
There is some merit in the plan for greater coordination between eurozone banks. But not if it creates yet more bureaucratic regulation and undermines national sovereignty Read more
Protestations from the Local Government Association about over-centralised regulation show that it missed the point about the abolition of the Audit Commission Read more
A series of scandals have exposed a lack of understanding of social care in the ranks of both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. The watchdogs need to learn from the wisdom of those delivering the service Read more
The growth in number of personal assistants is good news, but some careful thinking is needed to address the regulation issues that arise Read more
The Audit Commission is still holding back in responding to the consultation on its own demise. Criticising the government’s plans could be tantamount to attacking localism and the Big Society Read more
Current discussions over the role of health watchdog Monitor should be widened to include reforms to regulation also covering education and social care Read more
If private and non-profit providers are to be encouraged into public services such as the NHS they should be subject to ‘democratic regulation’. We should look to how the US oversees its utility companies Read more
Happy Easter Monday! Apart from being the day of the Easter egg hangover, it is also Eric Pickles’ chosen deadline for his consultation on statutory duties – part of the government’s big drive to ‘get rid of red tape’. Strange day for a deadline and – even stranger – the CLG web site says nothing at all about it today. But now that the consultation is apparently closed, let’s hope that those of you contemplating a response to the statutory duties review managed to submit yesterday, in between cream eggs. Read more...
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