Clinical governance

Chandraharan, Edwin; Arulkumaran, Sabaratnam

doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2007.05.003

« Previous Next »Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 7 , Pages 222-224, July 2007

Clinical governance

Edwin Chandraharan MBBS MS (Obs & Gyn) DFFP MRCOG is Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Lead For Clinical Governance – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK

Sabaratnam Arulkumaran MBBS MD PhD FRCOG is Professor and Head, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK

Abstract

Health care governance incorporates financial governance as well as clinical governance. The overall aim is to ensure optimum use of resources, while maintaining highest quality of patient care.

Clinical governance is defined as a ‘framework through which NHS organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish’. It is the responsibility of every healthcare provider to ensure that the principles of clinical governance are implemented in their day-to-day practice.

Keywords: clinical effectiveness, clinical governance, clinical leadership, information management, patient public involvement, risk management, strategic capacity and capability