Quality assurance in clinical care: A guide for managers

One of the best results of Mr Griffiths' review of the UK National Health Service has been the increased attention being given to issues of quality. Not everyone agrees that the NHS can learn from management of the nation's retail trade, but many would acknowledge that a strong selling point for the Sainsbury's chain has been the consistent quality of its products. Quality also exists in the NHS, but not consistent quality. British Governments have recognised that one side of the equation for quality is a reasonable distribution of resources. Thus political parties have supported the Resource Allocation Working Party's formula for the distribution of NHS funds. Now the other side of the equation — improving the quality of care — has become a priority.