Improving the quality of general practice care for patients has always been at the heart of the RCGP mission.

What is Quality Improvement?

Quality Improvement (QI) helps us identify what works well and where we can make changes. In primary care, we don’t have time or resources to spend on things that don’t work, don’t serve our patients, and that could be done more efficiently or effectively. QI is a commitment to continuously improving the quality of healthcare, focusing on the preferences and needs of the people who use services.

How will QI help me and my team?

• It's evidence based
• It saves time
• It improves GP practice systems and use of resources
• It leads to better outcomes for patients
• It's useful for all practice staff
• It supports practices performing at all levels

The College recognises its role in taking the initiative around the quality agenda, and that there is a need to reflect our members' experiences rather than focusing solely on the gold standard level of quality. ‘What good looks like’ changes over time and we want to encourage all members to engage in QI activities on a broader level of continuous improvement, supporting the whole membership irrespective of where they are on the quality spectrum.

RCGP position statement on quality in general practice

The RCGP has developed a position statement for people who provide general practice care for patients, and for those making judgements about the quality of general practice care. The position statement describes how the College wants to move from a standards-based assurance approach to a model that emphasises the importance of continuous improvement.

You can read the position statement here.

QI Ready

QI Ready is an online tool which will prepare GPs and practice staff to undertake QI activities in practices. The tool is made up of an Online Learning Network, a self-accreditation system and eLearning modules.

RCGP Quality Improvement Guide for General Practice

The aim of this guide is to make the principles and tools of quality improvement as accessible as possible for GPs and their practice teams.

You can view the RCGP’s Quality Improvement Guide for General Practice here.