Inquiry into the quality of general practice: quality improvement

Most general practice professionals are committed to providing a high-quality service to their patients. Yet quality improvement is not routinely embedded in general practice, and various barriers need to be overcome to create a culture in which quality improvement is recognised as central to the provision of good general practice services.

What did we explore?

To inform its final report, the Inquiry panel earlier this year commissioned a discussion paper to review approaches to quality improvement and their current usage in general practice.

Quality improvement in general practice makes recommendations for action at multiple levels of the health system to nurture and support improvements in quality in general practice. The paper's GP authors, Paresh Dawda, Richard Jenkins, and Robert Varnam, are also members of the primary care team at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

What have we learnt about quality improvement?

In July 2010 the Inquiry's Panel held an expert workshop to discuss the findings of the paper with participants including GPs, Department of Health representatives, health academics and patient groups. Key issues raised in discussion included:

• How quality improvement needs to address 'middle-ranking' general practices as well as the worst performers.

• The appropriate use of incentives to promote quality improvement.

• How to ensure quality improvement involves all members of the practice team.