Consultation on proposals for measuring the quallity of healthcare in the NHS

The Department of Health (DH) is giving allied health professionals an opportunity to shape the way that improvements in the quality of care are measured.

You are being invited to assess and comment on a set of proposed indicators that may help you to measure the quality of the services you deliver.

The Clinical Quality Indicators Survey follows the release earlier this year of the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review, entitled High Quality Care for All. The DH's goal is to support local efforts to improve quality by "developing useful and meaningful measures".

The survey, which runs until 12 December, contains data from NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts and the DH is asking clinicians from across the country for their views. The DH will then analyse the feedback and comments, identify which of the proposed indicators received most support as national indicators and follow up any alternative suggestions. The results will be published in the New Year.

The survey, which comprises 15 sections of indicators, is being supported by a number of medical bodies, including the Cardiovascular Society, and they will also be involved in its outcomes.