Quality improvement in general practice

Quality Improvement (QI) is a commitment to continuously improving the quality of healthcare by focusing on the preferences and needs of the people who use the services. It is an evidence-based approach that helps primary care free up time to deliver initiatives and embed new approaches more effectively and efficiently into practice. QI helps GPs to make the most of their systems, organisations, talents and expertise to deliver better outcomes for patients.

The RCGP recognises its role in taking the initiative around the quality agenda and that there is a need to reflect our members' experiences. In primary care, we don’t have time or resources to spend on things that don't work, don't serve our patients, and that could be done more efficiently or effectively. 'What good looks like' changes over time and we want to encourage everyone to engage in QI activities on a broader level, irrespective of where they are on the quality spectrum.

Clinical Policy

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) QI project

In 2019 the RCGP, in collaboration with NICE and the Health Foundation, were commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a series of quality improvement (QI) modules and guidance to form part of QOF. Ten modules were produced in this phase of work.

In 2021 the RCGP has continued to support general practice carry out this QOF activity by producing learning material for the QOF QI module topics supporting people with learning disability and early diagnosis of cancer. Additionally, guidance has been produced to support effective and sustainable QI within a primary care network (PCN). These resources are available below.

This project is clinically led and draws upon expertise from across the system, and from the established evidence base for specific module topics and for QI more broadly.

Resources

Primary Care Network guidance

Supporting people with learning disability

Early diagnosis of cancer

Archived projects