RCGP announces accreditation pilot in
England
24.01.08
A pilot scheme of accreditation for primary care providers in
England is being developed by the RCGP ready for rollout from April
2008.
Led by Professor Nigel Sparrow, Chair of the
RCGP Professional Development Board, it will support the
development of quality primary care and continuous quality
improvement through a programme which is voluntary, patient
focussed, developmental and professionally led. A steering
committee comprising representatives from all stakeholders
including the GPC has been established.
The pilot will involve 40 practices and is
based on the RCGP Quality Team Development (QTD) programme with
inclusion of international organisational criteria. It will be an
evidence-based scheme that includes standards, self assessment, an
accreditation visit and a development plan for the practice to help
providers aim for continuous quality development. The College will
be working with Professors Martin Roland and Helen Lester at the
NPCDC at University of Manchester to develop the pilot which will
also include a small number of clinical indicators.
Professor Sparrow said: “The aim of the scheme
is to support practices to aspire to further quality improvement,
reduce variability of care and health inequalities. It will
reassure patients on the safety of provision of their care.”
ends
For more information please contact the RCGP press office 020 7344
3135/3136/3137/3129 / press@rcgp.org.uk