NHS Clinical Governance: Who Qualifies and What You Get
A guide for pharmacy managers and owners regarding the framework for maintaining patient safety and reporting clinical incidents.
This is a structured framework designed to ensure high standards of care through consistent patient safety and incident reporting protocols. It provides the necessary structure for managing clinical risks and improving the quality of service provided to the public.
Who it's for
This framework is specifically designed for pharmacy managers and pharmacy owners. It serves as the regulatory and clinical backbone for those responsible for the daily operations and professional standards of a pharmacy setting.
What you get
By following this framework, you gain a formal system for managing patient safety and a standardized method for reporting incidents. This includes structured processes for identifying potential risks and a way to document and learn from patient safety incidents to prevent future occurrences. It provides the necessary oversight to ensure that clinical standards are being met consistently within your pharmacy environment.
What it costs you
Maintaining this framework requires a commitment of time and administrative effort. You are required to conduct a clinical audit every year to assess your performance and quality of care. Additionally, you must carry out regular patient satisfaction surveys to gather feedback and monitor the experience of those using your services. These processes are essential to ensure the pharmacy remains compliant with the required standards.
The catch to know
A significant requirement is the mandatory nature of the annual audit. You must complete this clinical audit every year as required, even in situations where your pharmacy is understaffed and operational resources are limited.
How to apply
- Review the current clinical governance requirements for your specific pharmacy setting.
- Set up a reliable system for identifying and reporting any patient safety incidents.
- Schedule your annual clinical audit to review your service quality.
- Implement a routine for conducting regular patient satisfaction surveys.