Quality Practice Award

Welcome to the QPA home page. 

 

Completing QPA has been proven to be a powerful tool in improving team working in practices. Practices that have successfully completed it have found the reflective learning it generates of benefit to team members in their personal learning with cross over to revalidation and PREP. The quality of the care their patients receive is perceived to be higher and the whole experience provides a deep sense of team and personal pride.

 

Below is a summary of the world of QPA. The current criteria can be found in QPA Essential Guidance. The menu on the left will provide further details on the QPA process.

 

What is QPA?

QPA is a quality assurance process undertaken by practices, which recognises a high standard of quality patient care delivered by every member of the practice team.

 

It was conceived in 1996 by a group of GPs in NE Scotland who, after undertaking Fellowship by Assessment (FBA), realised that their achievements would not have been possible without the support of the practice team. They went on to develop a scheme based on FBA, with the help of a multi-disciplinary group, which recognised the commitment of the entire practice team in providing quality of care for patients and staff.

 

As of 1st April 2008 there is now also mQPA, which is available to practices in Scotland. For more information on this please see the mQPA page here.

 

How does it work?

Each practice working on the QPA is required to submit a portfolio of written evidence set against a number of criteria covered in six modules. When a practice’s written evidence is complete, a full day assessment visit is conducted by a panel of four, which will comprise a combination of GPs, Nurses, Managers and Lay Assessors. 

 

How long will the process take?

Practices have 18 months from the time of application to completion of their submission. However, submitting a Notice of Intent to Apply (NIA) binds the practice to the version of criteria valid at that time. Failure to submit within the timescale might result in the practice having to transfer to the latest version.

 

Is there any Support?

The Essential Guidance contains a step-by-step guide and applicants will also have access to a central advisory structure. Practices will vary in the amount of support they require. Your local QPA Office can be contacted for further information

 

How long is the award valid for?

The award is valid for 5 years. Practices, who wish to be re-accredited for QPA without losing their QPA status, should begin work on the appropriate version of the award in time to complete and be re-awarded prior to the expiry of the initial award.

 

Why do it?

Practices achieving QPA have found that the process engenders a real sense of team spirit, pride in each other's areas of work and an improved understanding of working together towards a better environment for patients and staff. The criteria is continually modified and developed further to reflect the ongoing changes in general practice. Practices who undertake the assessment are therefore actively encouraged to feed into the development process.

 

QPA current version.

The criteria are reviewed annually and changes introduced and released on 1st April. Version 12 applies from 1st April 2009.

  

Please use the menu on the left hand side of this page to navigate to the subjects of your choice.

 

Overcoming barriers to QPA

Overcoming barriers to QPA (for PDF - 68kb)

 

Further information

Please contact the QPA office relevant to your geographic location. 

 

The RCGP Quality Practice Award E-bulletin - January 2007 (PDF, 230kb)

 

 

Updated April 2009

 

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