HQIP & RCGP to assemble leading GPs for quality improvement/revalidation strategy think tank

Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership links with RCGP for event to map out its Clinical Audit & GP Revalidation Strategy ahead of 2011 GMC deadline

With clinical audit rising in importance all the time and a fundamental part of the revalidation process for all doctors, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) is working with the Clinical Innovation and Research Centre of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to bring together leading figures in primary care to map out a Clinical Audit Strategy for GPs that will support quality improvement in practice and the needs of GPs as they begin revalidation.

The event is set to take place at the Royal College of Physicians on Wednesday 12 May 2010.

It will see up to 25 GPs that are leading the way in terms of clinical audit at practice level, gather to work out the role of clinical audit in relation to the Quality Outcomes Framework, Significant Event Audit and other Quality Improvement processes as part of GP audit strategy for 2010-11.

Speakers confirmed so far include Professor David Haslam (National Clinical Advisor at the Care Quality Commission and former president of the RCGP) and Professor Mike Pringle (University of Nottingham).

HQIP is helping to develop this GP strategy as part of the wider need for the RCGP to finalise its plans for revalidation and gain General Medical Council approval by 2011.

"A great deal of progress has been made in terms of GP engagement with the clinical audit process, but many practitioners still do not realise this is an absolute requirement of their successful revalidation" said HQIP Chief Executive Robin Burgess. "This event will bring together those already driving the quality improvement agenda and those keen to do so, in order to map a strategy that ensures all GPs are informed about clinical audit and how it relates to other Quality Improvement processes, and are given the tools they need to get up to speed as the countdown to the proposed revalidation deadline begins."

The London event will also seek to illustrate how clinical audit can be combined with existing quality improvement initiatives being undertaken by GPs and dispel any misconceptions that involvement in clinical audit requires extra work.

For its part, RCGP will be promoting the event and the ongoing clinical audit strategy to its members.

"This workshop will be an excellent opportunity to explore clinical audit in the context of appraisal, revalidation and quality practice," said Doctor Imran Rafi, Medical Director of CIRC. "CIRC is working closely with HQIP to develop and facilitate clinical audit in primary care."

As details of useful approaches to clinical audit in quality improvement are being developed, this event is likely to be the first of many across the country in the next year, with HQIP also likely to include the publication of formal guidance for practitioners in its promotional push.

Those wishing to express an interest in this work and would like to be involved in future events or consultation should contact kim.rezel@hqip.org.uk.