Working with Government
As England's watchdog for healthcare, we are independent of Government. Our formal status is that of a "non-departmental public body". While retaining this independence, we work closely with the Department of Health (DH) and the National Assembly for Wales.
We have agreed to an open and transparent working relationship with the Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales, which includes:
- Proactively sharing information about our future plans, publications and developments of policy.
- Working to help minimise the burden of regulation on organisations in the NHS and independent healthcare sector.
Keeping the Government informed
We have a statutory duty to keep the Secretary of State for Health and the National Assembly for Wales informed about how healthcare is provided in England and to advise them about related matters.
We also have a duty to publish a report on any review, investigation or study that the Commission carries out. We publish these reports independently and on the basis of our findings.
Appointment of our Commissioners
Although the Healthcare Commission is responsible for the management of its staff, our Chairman and the other members of the Commission are appointed by the NHS Appointments Commission.
More information
More detail about how we work with the Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales is available in the publications listed below:
