The Mirror reports that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will announce an extension of the existing special measures regime, currently in place to deal with failing hospitals, to also cover care homes after serious concerns over sub-optimal care and even neglect emerged recently.
The extension of the measures, to be adopted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will see homes deemed unsatisfactory or unsafe during inspections closed down or transferred to other providers. The new inspections regime is expected to be in place in October, with special measures applied from next April, and will also include home care services. There are additional plans for the system to be further extended to cover GP surgeries.
