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The
Primary Health Care Team Programme
Working
with primary care
The Health Quality Service (HQS)
has many years experience of working with primary care
organisations, and is pleased to have the support of the
NHS Alliance in the development of the standards and
other collaborative projects.
The
pace of change for primary care has never been greater, and
yet the sector is charged with making significant improvements
in healthcare provision and in the health of local populations.
Reaching targets, implementing the NHS Plan
and getting to grips with controls assurance are all
priorities. HQS works with primary care organisations to address
these issues in a logical and structured way within a framework
of continuous quality improvement.
HQS
programmes are based on the concept that the quality of care
which patients receive can be constantly enhanced if the systems
and processes for the delivery of care are thought through,
monitored and reviewed on a continual basis. HQS reviews and
updates its standards regularly, so they reflect national
requirements and quality programmes.
Many
organisations choose to remain in the HQS programme well beyond
the end of their initial project and award of accreditation.
This is because HQS clients are offered a comprehensive
support service, including:
-
standards updates
-
ongoing client management support throughout the project
-
project management training
-
workshop sessions on key topic areas
-
regular networking events
-
training and project management support materials (on CD
ROM)
-
integrated and fully-supported database for monitoring progress
and producing reports.
Since
1994, over 500 primary health care teams have worked with
the HQS standards framework. Following a period of extensive
revision in 1999 and again in 2001, HQS can offer standards-based
programmes that meet the separate health care requirements
of primary health care teams in England, Wales and Scotland.
We encourage a 'locally-managed' approach, where the project
is led by locally-nominated primary care professionals, who
are trained by HQS to provide support to their primary health
care teams throughout implementation. The programme comprises
the following standards:
1.
Management arrangements
2. Finance & IM&T
3. Human resources
4. Clinical Governance
5. Risk Management
6. Buildings, facilities & equipment
7. Management of medicines
8. Providing patient care (example
standard - click here to download a pdf copy)
9. Health records
10. Collaboration with other agencies.
Prioritising
Development
The programmes set high, but achievable, standards in
primary care. To assist in the prioritisation of activity,
the standards have been weighted:
- 'A'
weighted criteria reflect statutory and professional requirements,
government guidance, strategies and reports issued by the
government and professional bodies and accepted sound organisational
practice in primary care.
- 'B'
weighted criteria represent enhanced practice, and relate
to quality initiatives that may be met by some primary care
organisations given sufficient resources and a strong commitment
to quality.
Demonstration
of full compliance with all A-weighted criteria is required
in order for an organisation to achieve HQS accreditation.
Benefits
of Participation
Organisations
that have participated in HQS primary care programmes cite
the following examples of benefits achieved:
- collaborative
working between practices, the PCT/PCG/LHG/LHCC and external
agencies
-
achievement of local priorities for quality improvement
-
development of clinical governance
-
improved preparation for GP revalidation
-
tighter management of controls assurance & risk management
-
preparation for external inspection and performance management
-
assessment of practices against a set of current national
standards
-
action plans to guide future development
-
local and national recognition of quality in individual
practices
-
improved team-building, internal and external communication
systems and partnership with individuals and agencies.
For
further information contact:
Andrew
Thomas
Email: athomas@chks.co.uk
Tel:
020 7389 1009 (direct line)
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