Summary: a shared vision for a good QMS structure

Trust leaders are calling for a QMS framework that is integrated, people-focused and built for improvement, not just oversight. They consistently expressed that they see value in a national approach that guides, supports and simplifies.

Currently, the architecture around quality, and in particular safety, tends to be based on hindsight, with less focus and resource on enabling providers to pick up early on drifts downwards in norms and standards.

This makes it easy for early warning signs to be missed, which can have catastrophic consequences for patients. Done well, a cohesive, national, proactive approach to managing quality may enable trusts to better track downward trends in quality and understand where improvement is needed, creating a powerful tool in tackling avoidable harm in the health service. 

Trust leaders are engaged and interested in approaches that aim to support the proactive management of quality, and an enabling and empowering approach from national bodies in supporting the implementation of systems like QMSs are vital to ensure system-wide success.