The consultation on how the Care Quality Commission (CQC) intends to use its future enforcement powers, which include the Care Standards Act (CSA) 2000 powers and three new powers under the 2008 Act has now closed.

During 2009/10 the enforcement powers in the 2008 Act will apply only to NHS providers in relation to HCAI. For all other purposes, CQC will use the same powers and the same enforcement frameworks that the Healthcare Commission and CSCI use now (those in the CSA 2000). However, from 1 April 2010 all health and social care providers, and in some cases managers, will be subject to the full range of powers under the 2008 Act.

The three new powers in the 2008 Act are: issuing warning notices, issuing financial penalty notices, and suspending registration.

A copy of how ECCA responded to the consultation is available to ECCA members. For details of how to join, click here.