International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance: Volume 9 Issue 5

Factors influencing audit in general practice

Carol Davies, Joy Fletcher, Ala Szczepura, John Wilmot

Since 1990, the changes introduced in UK general practice, such as fund holding and national incentives, have altered the process of care. Audit, defined as “the systematic…

A priority queuing model to reduce waiting times in emergency care

Kris Siddharthan, Walter J. Jones, James A. Johnson

Investigates the increased waiting time costs imposed on society due to inappropriate use of the emergency department by patients seeking non‐emergency or primary care. Proposes a…

The quality of prescribing in general practice

John Holden, Robert Wilson

General practitioner prescribing is a subject of legitimate interest to all those concerned with the quality of patient care. The analysis of prescribing and cost data can reveal…

A glossary of terms encountered in quality and customer service

Brian Moores

A glossary of terms and definitions relating to the fields of quality and customer care, exemplified by reference to health care.

Can we measure the effectiveness of our organizations?

Tom Butler, James Kendra, Ruth Grimley, Brenda Taylor

Based on an action learning programme involving clinical directors and their business managers, explores the options open to analysing the effectiveness of a directorate including…

Pregnancy care of the low risk woman: the community‐hospital interface

Lucy H. Kean, David T.Y. Liu, Sue Macquisten

Aims to determine the extent to which women suitable for community‐based antenatal and intrapartum care will require hospital contact. Reports on an historical cohort study of low…

Customers and contractors in the new NHS

J.S. MacKeith

Presents the results of a study in the former Yorkshire region to discover the effect of the changes in the NHS on relationships between Community Health Councils (CHCs) and…