The London Quality Standards: A case study in changing clinical care (summary)

In 2011, London Health Programmes, a coalition in between NHS London and London’s primary care trusts (PCTs), started a London-wide attempt to improve the quality of severe and emergency care. The primary vehicle for enhancement was the development and application of professional agreement requirements, the London Quality Standards (LQS). The requirements set out the minimum quality of care that clients with medical illnesses ought to expect when admitted to hospital. They stipulate, for example, that patients should receive prompt medical evaluations by medical and multidisciplinary staff, have essential diagnostic examinations (such as CT scans) and important interventions (such as endoscopy) without delay and ought to be robustly kept track of for clinical wear and tear. The requirements likewise mandate patterns …