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Controls Assurance

Making a Difference: The Review of Controls Assurance (PDF 160KB) published on 30th November 2004  outlines six new outcomes to complement 8 outcomes published in August 2004. Taken together these measures will significantly reduce bureaucratic burdens on NHS staff.

The existing NHS Controls Assurance regime was scrapped 1st August 2004. The decision to end the standards was a result of the joint Review of Controls Assurance project undertaken by the Regulatory Impact Unit’s Public Sector Team (PST) and the Department of Health (DH). 

The Review of Controls Assurance follows previous Making a Difference reports in health, Reducing General Practitioner Paperwork (March 2001- PDF), Reducing Burdens on General Practitioners (June 2002 - PDF), Reducing Burdens in Hospitals (July 2002 - PDF) and Reducing Burdens in Healthcare Inspection and Monitoring (July 2003 - PDF) and aims to identify and reduce the unnecessary bureaucratic burdens associated with the Controls Assurance process. 

DH commissioned a survey of front line staff and stakeholders early in 2004, which identified key problem areas. The PST then held a series of workshops with front line staff and developed practical proposals to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. The team has since worked with DH to negotiate and agree changes to current processes and paperwork rather than simply making recommendations for change. 

The August 2004 interim report announced some of the early outcomes from the project. This final report and summary report (PDF 92KB) detail the 14 outcomes from the project and include case studies highlighting the expected impact of the changes.

If you would like to get in touch with us about the Controls Assurance project, please e-mail psinfo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

The Department of Health website has further information about their bureaucracy-reducing activities - http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/Modernisation/BureaucracyAndGateway/fs/en