Quality of health regulator’s data is questioned after trust is slammed for poor standards

The quality of the data available on NHS trusts’ performance and standards has been called into question after a highly critical report into an Essex trust.

The Care Quality Commission, the regulatory body of NHS trusts in England, and Monitor, the independent regulator of foundation trusts, have taken joint action because of concerns they have over standards at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The regulators are now coordinating their powers to force the trust to improve what have been described as “serious failings,” and a task force of experts is to be sent to the trust to sort out its affairs.

However, measures of standards published on the commission’s website say that the quality of services at the trust is “good.” The website ranks the trust’s safety and cleanliness as 13 out of …