ABSTRACT
The duty of quality placed on Trusts is described in section 18 of the Health Act 1999: It is the duty of each Health Authority, Primary Care Trust and NHS Trust to put and keep In place arrangements for the purpose of monitoring and improving the quality of healthcare which it provides to individuals. This has been a legal duty for NHS Trusts since April 1999 and is delivered through the various components of clinical governance. The clinical governance lead therefore has available a considerable quantity of existing but disconnected information about the quality of care. The framework for governance needs to provide a structure that ensures that all these quality committees make regular reports, are properly serviced and produce minutes that show clear recommendations and responsibilities for action. General managers or business managers so far have found it difficult to intercede in matters of clinical practice.
