The Quality Observatory One of the relationship made explicit with the publication of ‘High Quality Care for All’ in June 2008, was the relationship between good quality and measurement. This important document made reference to the fact that high performance in all aspects of quality is nearly always present in organisations that proactively and effectively measure their activity and use the information gathered to drive improvements forward. One of the requirements of ‘High Quality Care for All’ was therefore the establishment of regional ‘Quality Observatories’ to support the local NHS with one of the seven elements of the Quality Framework – Measure Quality.
Bring clarity to quality – standard s
Measure quality
Publish quality performance
Recognise and reward quality
Clinical leadership
Safeguard quality
Stay ahead
The key functions of a Quality Observatory are: • • •
Enable and support benchmarking within and across regions; Support the development of metrics to enable front line staff to effectively monitor and improve their services Identify opportunities for clinical staff to innovate and improve services, providing the quantitative evidence to support change where required
This booklet provides some examples of work undertaken by the South East Coast Quality Observatory to support improvements in quality and productivity.
Samantha Riley Head of the Quality Observatory