Roles and responsibilities in clinical governance
Responsibility for ensuring the quality and safety of healthcare services sits first and foremost with organisations and the individual professionals working within them. Regulatory and quality improvement bodies also play an important role in promoting this.
Organisations
- Put in place clinical governance systems which promote and protect the interests of patients.
- Create an environment which supports doctors in meeting their professional obligations.
Doctors
- Practise in accordance with the principles and values set out in Good Medical Practice and participate in revalidation.
- Participate in the systems and processes put in place by organisations to protect and improve patient care.
Regulators and quality improvement agencies
Improve the quality of care by:
- Monitoring, and where relevant, enforcing compliance with standards and regulations.
- Sharing information and intelligence in relation to patient-safety.
- Promoting a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
- Acting decisively to protect the public when risks to patient care or wellbeing emerge.
