Clinical Governance

Clinical Governance can be defined as a framework through which UK National Health Service (NHS) organisations and their staff are accountable for continuously improving the quality of patient care. NHS staff need to ensure that the appropriate systems and processes are in place to monitor clinical practice and safeguard high quality of care. Clinical Governance is central to the UK Government's agenda to ensure that quality of care becomes a key driver in the development of health services.

The Network Clinical Governance sub-group is chaired by Dr.Mike Hird and is well attended at its meeting held every 2 months by representatives from all the units. A major  focus of the group is the development of Network wide clinical guidelines. These guidelines are at various stages of development and implementation. They will all shortly be available of the website for ease of access. Other work includes the development of parent information leaflets; repatriation forms and Network Incident reporting process. In 2010 the inclusion of the Essex Hospitals - Basildon and Southend into the NE network has served to expanded the groups' remit.

The challenges facing the group:

(i) Determine the extent and success to which network guidelines have been implemented in each unit.
(ii) Development of a work plan that will enable the group to meet the markers of good practice outlined in the 'Toolkit for High -Quality Neonatal Services' DOH 2009.

Useful Links (to open , right click on link and choose option 'Open in New Window')

National Neonatal Audit Programme hosted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health www.rcpch.ac.uk/nnap

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence www.nice.org.uk

DOH website www.dh.gov.uk