Review bodies agree practices to improve health and social care in Wales
CHAI, 13-05-2005 

The main external review bodies inspecting, regulating and auditing health and social care in Wales have today, 12 May 2005, published an agreement (a Concordat) which will support the improvement of services in health and social care in Wales and also help to eliminate any unnecessary burdens of external review. 

The Concordat between the external review bodies sets out a number of principles and practices which underpins a programme to develop and implement policies for inspection, regulation and audit, that are based on sound objectives and practices. 

Key to supporting the improvement of services in health and social care in Wales and helping to eliminate unnecessary burdens of external review will be the way external reviews can be better co-ordinated, and the way in which improvements can be made in the collection and sharing of information between the external review bodies. In addition, it is anticipated that external reviews will be targeted to take into account factors such as the nature, size and performance of the body to be reviewed and risk assessment. 

Other agreements include a strong focus on the experience of patients, other service users and carers, and the way in which external reviews support improvements in quality and performance through communicating good practice with a strong focus on outcomes for users of health and social care service 

The Concordat is also welcomed by the Welsh Assembly Government as a key stage in helping providers to improve services for patients, clients and carers and also for delivering a significant and measurable impact on the co-ordination and effectiveness of audit and inspection programmes in Wales