National Quality Board set out how to improve quality in the new health system

The National Quality Board (NQB) has published a report setting out how the organisations in the new health system will work together in England to maintain and improve quality and safety, ensuring patients receive the best possible care.

The NQB brings together leading national organisations across the health system including the Care Quality Commission, Monitor, the NHS Trust Development Authority, NICE, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the NHS Commissioning Board Authority, the Department of Health and the General Medial Council.

The report focuses on how the new health system partners will work together to identify, respond to and prevent serious failures in quality of care. It also provides a collective statement from NQB members as to:

1. a.      the nature and place of quality in the new health system
2. b.      the distinct roles and responsibilities for quality of the different parts of the system
3. c.      how the different parts of the system should work together to share information and intelligence to ensure an coordinated approach in the event of a failure of care
4. d.      the values and behaviours that all parts of the system will need to display to put the interests of patients and the public first and ahead of organisational interests.

The report is in draft form and the NQB would welcome views from both those working in or with an interest in the health system. Please contact nationalqualityboard@dh.gsi.gov.uk  by 30 September 2012.

A final version of the report will be published once the NQB has considered any relevant conclusions from the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Inquiry.