Clinical governance

Question 1

What is clinical governance?

Answer 1

A system where healthcare providers are accountable for:
- Continuously improving the quality of services.
- Safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment where excellence in clinical care will flourish.

Question 2

Importance of clinical governance

Answer 2

• HCPs are accountable and encouraged to take professional responsibility.
• Ensure systems/processes are in place for continuous improvement.
• Involves everyone (counter assistants, technicians etc.)

Question 3

The Seven Pillars of Clinical Governance

Answer 3

1) Patient/ public involvement
2) Clinical Audit
3) Risk management
4) Clinical effectiveness
5) Staff and Staff Management
6) Use of information
7) Premises Standards

Question 4

1. Patient and Public involvement

Answer 4

1.1 Practice leaflet
1.2 Publicising NHS services
1.3 Patient satisfaction survey
1.4 Monitoring arrangements for owings
1.5 Approved complaints system
1.6 Visits by Local Involvement Networks
1.7 Compliance with reasonable inspections or reviews by the PCT or any relevant statutory body
1.8 Monitoring arrangements for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act1995

Question 5

2. Audit

Answer 5

Comprehensive review of operations and processes to verify a pharmacy’s compliance with regulations.

Question 5

CPPQ

Answer 5

1) Give patients details to complain about our pharmacies
2) Find out what we are doing well, what we can do better and act to change how our pharmacy operates as a result
3) Ensure that patients with disabilities have the facilities needed to access pharmacy services, to the same level as everyone else.

Question 6

Audit - advantages

Answer 6

• Find out whether an activity/service meets the set standards.
• Allows you to identify any problems and make improvements - a continuous cycle of quality improvement.
• Improves patient care, safety and practice.

Question 7

3. Risk management

Answer 7

• Robust systems must be in place to manage/prevent risks.
• Procedures should be regularly reviewed, especially after an incident occurs to prevent recurrence.
• Examples = near miss error logs, pharmacy alerts, yellow card scheme.

Question 8

4. Clinical effectiveness

Answer 8

NMS and MURs are part of clinical governance.
1. Advising people on the safe use of medicines and side effects.
- Opportunity for people to ask questions about their meds.
2. Advising people on self-care.
3. Knowing when to signpost to another HCP
4. Ensuring people are only receiving medicines they needs - POM and OTC.

Question 9

5. Staff and staff management

Answer 9

• Employers must check employees qualifications and references.
• Staff must receive an induction when they start.
• Ongoing support, training and development.
• Clear processes should be in place for managing poor performance.

Question 10

6. Use of information

Answer 10

• Must comply with standards set out in the information governance toolkit (IGT).
• Pharmacies must achieve level two on IG Toolkit.

Question 11

Information Governance (IG) Toolkit

Answer 11

• Enables pharmacies to assess themselves against the Department of Health’s Information Governance policies and standards.

Question 12

7. Premises Standards

Answer 12

7.1 Cleanliness of premises
- Good infection prevention and control

7.2 Appropriate environment
- Professional
- Pts feel comfortable