Emily Townsend

I'm an award-winning journalist currently working as a senior correspondent at Health Service Journal. I predominantly cover care quality and patient safety, including maternity and the CQC.

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Health Service Journal •

‘Astounding’ failure sees regulator neglect criminal checks for 12 years

By Emily Townsend2026-05-27T10:31:00Leaders of the troubled nursing regulator have admitted to a “completely and utterly unacceptable” failure to properly conduct criminal checks on applicants to its register over a 12-year period. By Emily Townsend2026-05-27T10:31:00 Leaders of the troubled nursing regulator have admitted to a “completely and utterly unacceptable” failure to properly conduct criminal checks on applicants to its register over a 12-year period.
Health Service Journal •

CQC warns Health Bill could leave it fighting itself in court

By Emily Townsend2026-05-20T14:12:00The Care Quality Commission has warned that government plans for it to absorb the national patient safety investigations body could leave it arguing against itself in the High Court. By Emily Townsend2026-05-20T14:12:00 The Care Quality Commission has warned that government plans for it to absorb the national patient safety investigations body could leave it arguing against itself in the High Court.
Health Service Journal •

Trust sued by staff over ‘hazardous’ exposure to gas

By Emily Townsend2026-05-18T11:52:00Dozens of staff members working in a major hospital trust’s maternity unit are seeking compensation over claims they were exposed to “hazardous” levels of gas and air. By Emily Townsend2026-05-18T11:52:00 Dozens of staff members working in a major hospital trust’s maternity unit are seeking compensation over claims they were exposed to “hazardous” levels of gas and air.
Health Service Journal •

Hospital trust ‘deeply sorry’ for harm to dozens of children

By Emily Townsend2026-05-12T11:37:00At least 40 children suffered harm – with over 20 cases classed as “moderate or severe” – due to delays while receiving care from a hospital’s audiology department, HSJ  can reveal. By Emily Townsend2026-05-12T11:37:00 At least 40 children suffered harm – with over 20 cases classed as “moderate or severe” – due to delays while receiving care from a hospital’s audiology department, HSJ  can reveal.
Health Service Journal •

Exclusive: NHSE home birth proposals spark major safety fears

By Emily Townsend2026-04-28T04:57:00NHS England is considering allowing midwives to “withdraw” services from women deemed to be giving birth at home against professional advice, HSJ  has learned. By Emily Townsend2026-04-28T04:57:00 NHS England is considering allowing midwives to “withdraw” services from women deemed to be giving birth at home against professional advice, HSJ  has learned.
Health Service Journal •

HSJ Podcast: The CQC's latest crisis

And with staff pride at a record low at the Care Quality Commission, according to its latest internal survey, we cover what will be in the in-tray of its new CEO and why the regulator wants to find someone with “clear political licence”.  On Thursday evening, following the recording of this podcast, East Kent Hospitals Trust issued a statement stating Ms Doherty was stepping down so that the organisation could “appoint a chair who can focus exclusively on leading East Kent through the next phas...
Health Service Journal •

Families want top medic removed from key taskforce

By Emily Townsend2026-04-24T04:56:00Bereaved families impacted by the Nottingham maternity scandal have called on Wes Streeting to remove a senior medic from a national taskforce whose appointment they said was “deeply distressing”. By Emily Townsend2026-04-24T04:56:00 Bereaved families impacted by the Nottingham maternity scandal have called on Wes Streeting to remove a senior medic from a national taskforce whose appointment they said was “deeply distressing”.
Health Service Journal •

Staff pride in CQC at record low as review warns of ‘further crisis’

By Emily Townsend2026-04-23T05:57:00There has been a drop in the proportion of staff feeling proud to work at the Care Quality Commission, its latest survey suggests – with nearly half of employees answering this question neutrally or negatively. By Emily Townsend2026-04-23T05:57:00 There has been a drop in the proportion of staff feeling proud to work at the Care Quality Commission, its latest survey suggests – with nearly half of employees answering this question neutrally or negatively.
Health Service Journal •

CQC seeks CEO with ‘clear political licence’

By Emily Townsend2026-04-21T11:37:00The Care Quality Commission’s next chief executive will need to operate with “clear political licence” and be a ”visible national leader”, according to the troubled regulator’s job description for the role. By Emily Townsend2026-04-21T11:37:00 The Care Quality Commission’s next chief executive will need to operate with “clear political licence” and be a ”visible national leader”, according to the troubled regulator’s job description for the role.
Health Service Journal •

‘Inadequate’ provider threatens CQC with legal action

By Emily Townsend2026-03-31T12:11:00A patient transport company rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission has said it is taking legal action against the watchdog because it claims the judgement was based on factual inaccuracies and inspectors “going rogue”. By Emily Townsend2026-03-31T12:11:00 A patient transport company rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission has said it is taking legal action against the watchdog because it claims the judgement was based on factual inaccura...
Health Service Journal •

CQC still facing ‘pervasive’ concerns and ‘deep wariness’

By Emily Townsend2026-03-30T11:41:00Lack of trust in the Care Quality Commission is “pervasive and deeply felt” and there is widespread criticism of its inspectors, according to a major consultation. By Emily Townsend2026-03-30T11:41:00 Lack of trust in the Care Quality Commission is “pervasive and deeply felt” and there is widespread criticism of its inspectors, according to a major consultation.
Health Service Journal •

Four trusts rated ‘red’ on baby deaths

By Emily Townsend2026-03-26T05:33:00Four hospital trusts have been assessed as having higher than expected rates of both stillbirth and neonatal deaths, according to HSJ analysis of a national safety audit. By Emily Townsend2026-03-26T05:33:00 Four hospital trusts have been assessed as having higher than expected rates of both stillbirth and neonatal deaths, according to HSJ analysis of a national safety audit.
Health Service Journal •

A&E performance recovery lauded by NHSE ‘may not be real’

By Emily Townsend2026-03-23T05:55:00The “substantial improvements” in a trust’s A&E performance praised by NHS England directors “may not be real” according to a paper prepared by its local health and care partnership. By Emily Townsend2026-03-23T05:55:00 The “substantial improvements” in a trust’s A&E performance praised by NHS England directors “may not be real” according to a paper prepared by its local health and care partnership.
Health Service Journal •

Maternity taskforce ‘missing integral expertise’

By Emily Townsend2026-03-19T13:11:00“Integral” expertise is missing from Wes Streeting’s new maternity taskforce, a royal college has said, after no anaesthetists were included in the core group set up to tackle ongoing failures in care. By Emily Townsend2026-03-19T13:11:00 “Integral” expertise is missing from Wes Streeting’s new maternity taskforce, a royal college has said, after no anaesthetists were included in the core group set up to tackle ongoing failures in care.
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