Quality Practice Award

A couple of years ago Barnsley GPs formed a group to define and assess what "quality practice" was.

Quality could be defined from many viewpoints and after much debate it was decided to define it as how an "excellent practice" would provide care for a group of important chronic diseases. Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Ischaemic Heart Disease and End of Life Care were chosen as the first diseases to develop standards for.

The standards for each disease included how the practice organised and delivered care. What prevention and case finding it did and to what standards the diseases were treated.

Practices were invited to apply for the award by a comprehensive self-assessment pro-forma. Practices who met the self-assessment standards were then visited by an inspection team of four (two GPs, a practice manager and a PCT manager) to assess compliance with the standards.

We are pleased that our practice met these standards and are proud to display this "quality award" in our surgery and on our letters.