Investigating major problems

As England's healthcare watchdog, we have the power to investigate NHS trusts if we have evidence that suggests a serious problem that may be putting patients at risk.

We undertake an intervention if we are not assured that the trust is doing all it can to protect its patients. We do this with the trust's cooperation and where its management accepts that there is a need for rapid improvement. We only undertake a full investigation if we believe there is a serious failure in services at a trust that is badly affecting the safety of patients, and where improvement is urgently needed.