The Care Quality Commission (CQC) claims it is ‘on the right track and making rapid progress' despite a government spending watchdog's judgement that it has not achieved value for money since its formation in 2009.

According to a National Audit Office (NAO) report, the health and social care regulator has registered 21,600 new providers, but missed two out of three deadlines. This slippage forced the commission to divert inspectors from core duties to registration work and in consequence the CQC completed less than half - only 47% - of its target number of compliance reviews between October 2010 and April 2011.