The Government has dropped its plan to abolish the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) and transfer its functions to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), confirming the reversal on 30 October.

HSSIB was established in 2023 as an independent body to investigate patient safety incidents linked to NHS and privately provided healthcare in England, with the aim of learning lessons across the system rather than blaming individuals. The original plan to fold it into the regulator was set out in the NHS 10-year health plan, following a review by NHS England chair Penny Dash that called for fewer bodies involved in quality oversight.

Why the plan changed

The proposal faced sustained opposition from parliamentarians, patient safety groups and the CQC itself. Critics warned of a conflict of interest in placing an independent investigator inside the regulator that inspects and rates services. The CQC told the Health and Social Care Select Committee it was concerned about protecting the safe space between its proposed investigatory and regulatory arms.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Patient Safety also raised concerns. The Department of Health and Social Care said it had listened to parliamentarians and stakeholders and tabled amendments to the Health Bill to retain HSSIB in its current form, preserving its independent investigative function and specialist expertise.

What happens next

The amendments remove the provisions that would have transferred HSSIB's functions, including its powers of entry and its ability to demand and secure documentary evidence. The department says it remains committed to the Dash Review's aims and will continue to address duplication.

The U-turn follows a similar decision to retain Healthwatch England. Patient safety campaigners welcomed the move, while the CQC said it would continue to work closely with HSSIB as a partner in driving safety and improvement in healthcare.