From April 2010 new essential standards of quality and safety are being introduced gradually across all health and adult social care services in England. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the new independent regulator of health and adult social care, will license services if they meet essential standards and constantly monitor them to make sure they are compliant with new legislation about to be passed in parliament.

NHS trusts are the first to come into the new system starting 1 April this year; they will be followed in October by all providers of social care for people over 18 years of age and by providers of independent healthcare. Over the coming two years the system will include all primary care and dentists too.

The biggest change from any earlier system of regulation is that each of the standards is based on an actual outcome for people rather than a policy or a target. Providers must demonstrate that people in their care have a quality experience across all aspects of their treatment, care or support.