BMJ  2008;336:1143 (24 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.a127 (published 20 May 2008)

Editorials

Quality improvement in the NHS

Refinement of current reforms is needed through a new national strategy

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Although not always recognised by clinicians and the public, the principal aim of most of the reforms of the NHS in England over the past decade has been not only to increase efficiency and productivity but also to improve the quality of care—that is, its effectiveness, humanity, and equity. For example, establishing the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and national service frameworks was meant to enhance effectiveness; introducing competition and choice was partly intended to improve the patient’s experience of care; and adjusting resource allocation to commissioners sought to achieve greater equity.

The multiplicity of changes to the governance, organisation, and financing of services has made it difficult to judge the effects of any single reform on the quality of health care. Despite this, there has been no shortage of people ready to express authoritative opinions, from members of the public and patients’ organisations, through royal colleges and . . . [Full text of this article]

Nick Black, professor of health services research

1 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT

Nick.Black@lshtm.ac.uk


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