The Care Quality Commission have today published new equality objectives in a bid to improve access to good quality health and social care services across the UK.

The CQC have said that in spite of some progress on equality, people from some equality groups are still less likely to receive good quality health and social care.

The new objectives, set for the next two years, focus on the Commission's regulatory role in improving equality and detail changes in their inspection procedures to ensure providers are  more inclusive and person-centred.

CQC inspections will also look at how health and social care providers meet the new Accessible Information Standard, which applies to disabled people who have information and communication needs.

The report also includes details of how the Commission themselves will improve their communication to all service users, to make the CQC more accessibe. 

One objective looks at reducing barriers and improving access to primary care for migrants, asylum seekers, Gypsies and Travellers, to help address poor health outcomes, as well as exploring how people in specific equality groups are supported on referral, transfer between services on discharge from hospital and in primary care.

The objectives also focus on health and social care leadership in a bid to improve staff equality, as well as good quality care.