Keele Research Repository

This research uses mixed methods to critically analyse health regulation systems in England, in a macro and micro sense. The qualitative side of the research involves interviews with key staff members from four NHS Trusts and two Clinical Commissioning Groups. These semi-structured interviews offer unique specific insights from the key actors, from varying perspectives in the process. The quantitative element of the research focuses on trends and correlations of the data sets used by particular arm’s length bodies operating in the policy area. Specific arm’s length bodies operating in the health policy arena, which are assessed in the research, include the Care Quality Commission, Monitor and Dr Foster Intelligence.
The findings and conclusions centre on the deficiencies that are present in the current regulatory regime, what is occurring in this area, and why this is occurring. Following the Grounded Theory Approach, the research develops inductive theory, from the data, culminating in a “Feedback Loop Theory of Regulation”.

Key words: NHS, regulation, mixed methods, arm’s length bodies, feedback loop theory, grounded theory, Care Quality Commission, Monitor, and Dr Foster Intelligence.