Teams across NHS Wales have the opportunity to forge a new, effective approach for managing the quality of healthcare.
Directorate, specialty and care group teams can apply to enter the new the QMS Prototype Programme of Support launched last week to help them design, test and embed a Quality Management System (QMS).
A QMS draws together quality planning, quality improvement, quality control and quality assurance to systematically manage quality within organisations. Achieving an effective QMS will provide an operating framework that continuously, reliably and sustainably results in high quality care.
Delivered as part of NHS Wales Performance and Improvement’s QMS partnership with Q, a community collaboratively accelerating the improvement of health and care, and Quality Improvement Clinic (QIC), the QMS Prototype Programme of Support will provide two successful teams with access to a range of expert coaching, guidance and advice to support their QMS journey until June 2027.
Part of the Safe Care Partnership’s Duty of Quality Leaders workstream, the programme of support aims to create real-world examples of building an effective QMS in NHS services, providing rich learning, insights and approaches for adoption by others.
Development of the prototypes will also test the Developing a Quality Management System framework and methodology published by NHS Wales Performance and Improvement in February 2025, and inform how it is shaped into the future.
Dominique Bird, Acting National Director for Quality Safety and Improvement, NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, said: “We’re delighted to introduce this new offer of support, which we hope will provide a catalyst for organisations throughout NHS Wales to establish an effective Quality Management System.
“Embedding a QMS is a real opportunity for teams throughout NHS Wales to confidently and systematically achieve consistent, high-quality care, despite the challenges posed by the complexity of our healthcare systems and the intense operational pressures they face every day.
“With the expert input of our partners in the Q community and QIC, we are really excited to support health boards on their QMS journey, seizing on the real sense of momentum we can see building to achieve the highest quality healthcare for the people of Wales.”
QMS Support Ramping Up
The QMS Prototype Programme of Support is one of many approaches being taken through the partnership to support health boards and trusts to embed effective QMS, which is a requirement under the Duty of Quality.
The offer was launched at the first meeting of the new QMS Learning and Delivery Network, a group of senior colleagues throughout NHS Wales that will play a key role in establishing a QMS in their organisations, who will share ideas and experiences, learning and progressing together.
Alongside Board Development Sessions, which have been offered to Boards across NHS Wales to shape leadership around quality, further activity includes the ongoing development of the QMS Hub of resources of tools, resources and examples of good practice, and production of new staff education packages.
Dr Matthew Hill, Head of Insight, Evaluation and Research, Q, and Nicola Davey, Director, Quality Improvement Clinic said: “We are delighted to be working with NHS Wales Performance and Improvement to support the development of QMS across the country. We’ve seen the many benefits that a more consistent and coordinated approach to managing quality can have for staff, performance and, most importantly, care for patients.
“The Prototyping Programme of Support offers a fantastic opportunity to work right alongside two teams to develop a QMS that builds on your strengths, fits your context and really meets your organisation’s and population’s needs”
For more information about how we’re supporting health boards and trusts to embed effective QMS, visit the Safe Care Partnership webpages.