Improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare, that is safe, patient-centred and that consistently meets the needs of a growing and ageing population is at the heart of NHS Lothian’s Strategic Plan (2014). However, measuring and assuring the quality and standards of care delivered to patients by individuals and teams is not an easy process. NHS Lothian’s Quality Strategy (2015) sets out a vision to utilise a Quality Management System approach to ensure everything we do adds value and minimises waste. This approach requires leaders at all levels to regularly spend time with teams working collaboratively to develop an inspirational quality improvement approach to improving quality and care based on our values, resilience, shared learning and compassionate leadership.
Lothian Accreditation & Care Assurance Standards Framework
The NHS Lothian Accreditation and Care Assurance Standards provides a framework to give Organisational and Service User Assurance that Quality Person Centred Care is being delivered consistently across all NHS Lothians Services. The Framework has been developed to promote Quality Assurance activity to be utilised to positively inform and drive improvement in line with the board’s Objectives, Quality Strategy and Quality Management Approach.
The framework builds upon the national work being undertaken by Excellence in Care by:
- identifying measures and indicators of quality
- supporting local teams to access quality measurement data and resources that will help them identify and plan improvements within their own area of practice
- supporting the ethos of the Nursing and Midwifery 2030 Vision, that person-centred care is consistently being delivered by confident, competent and compassionate practitioners
NHS Lothian Accreditation and Care Assurance Standards incorporates a self-assessment and external peer assessment process with teams having the opportunity to present themselves for ‘Accreditation’. This is in line with HealthCare Improvement Scotland (2018)’s ‘Quality of Care Approach’ which advocates self-evaluation to identify opportunities for improvement with subsequent action planning, implementation, monitoring and review of actions. This, complemented by external validation, challenge and intervention as required, are recognised as key drivers for improving healthcare. The NHS Lothian Accreditation Panel, which will be made up of clinical, executive and non-executive members and HSCP representation, will provide the correct level of external scrutiny, challenge and feedback that celebrates successes and promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement.
What is the NHS Lothian Accreditation and Care Assurance Standards?
The NHS Lothian Accreditation and Care Assurance Standards Framework is based on a model used within Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and is designed to support nurses and the multi-professional team to identify and build upon what works well and to take effective action where further improvements are necessary.
- A process for developing a clear and inspiring vision for person centred care
- Incorporates a self-assessment and external peer assessment process that will provide assurance for all that care meets the standards of NHS Lothian
- Accurately measures a ward/department’s level of performance against a set of Care Assurance Standards which incorporates and is triangulated with other sources of Quality Data and staff and patient feedback, including the learning from complaints and adverse events.
- The assessment process includes a mechanism to ensure continuous improvement is supported. This involves an analytical, counselling and self-improvement dimension to the improvement action plan process.
The framework is designed around a set of core defined standards that services have had the opportunity to co-develop as unique indicators of quality care for their patient population and service. A parallel process of supporting and developing for improvement is a key component to ensure the standards are achieved consistently and sustainably in clinical areas.
