Improving Together: A National Framework for Quality and GP Clusters in Scotland

Governance and Administration

The ethos of this transformed model of care, in which general practice is integral, is based on an accessible multidisciplinary approach fully integrated into local NHS Health Board and Health and Social Care Partnership ( HSCP) arrangements. Responsibility for overall clinical governance will lie with the designated organisational Clinical Lead(s) within the Health Board or HSCP (according to local arrangements) but individual Health Care Professionals will have personal responsibility to ensure that the quality of care to patients is in line with professional requirements.

As such, each service provider will ensure that they can demonstrate clear management accountability and clinical governance arrangements if called upon to do so. This may include providing evidence of internal practice assurance meetings and protocols, demonstrating reflection and necessary actions.

The aim is to provide a service to the public consistent with the national quality aims, for safe, person-centred and clinically effective care, delivered in a timely manner, with efficient use of resource and addressing any inequalities in health/healthcare.

In doing so, practices will need suitably trained clinical staff, that may include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and AHPs, to meet the specific healthcare needs of citizens in their practice population, compliant with the agreed roles and professional requirements outlined in their contract.

Each organisation responsible for contracting with general practice will have a designated organisational lead (or similar) who will have an overall strategic responsibility that ensures key processes are in place to provide quality of care support for those within the service and a framework for clinical governance within local governance structures. They will ensure that systems, processes and procedures are in place to support General Medical Services and receive assurance on the delivery of safe, person-centred and effective care. Any model of delivery must promote equity of access, and respect for individuals not compromised by physical, language, cultural, social, economic and other barriers.