3 February 2025
The NHS Wales Executive has published guidance to support organisations across NHS Wales to establish effective Quality Management Systems (QMS).
The Developing a Quality Management System paper provides a QMS framework and methodology designed for adoption by healthcare organisations to operate with quality at their core, and to continuously improve to meet the needs of their populations.
The paper surfaces learning and insights gained during a five-year process of researching, developing and testing a new QMS framework and methodology by Improvement Cymru, now part of the NHS Wales Executive’s Quality, Safety and Improvement directorate.
Nationwide stakeholder interviews, thematic analysis of 15 international expert interviews, and a substantial literature review of approximately 500 abstracts, original research papers, and case-study reports provided the foundations for the development of the framework and methodology.
Successfully tested at both directorate and organisational level, the framework and methodology provide an evidence-based approach that organisations across NHS Wales can adopt to establish effective quality management systems, as required under the Duty of Quality.
The Duty directs Welsh NHS bodies to establish an effective QMS placing appropriate focus on quality control, quality planning, quality improvement and quality assurance, which are all central to the QMS framework and methodology’s design.
Dom Bird, Acting National Director for Quality, Safety and Improvement, NHS Wales Executive said: “Effective quality management systems are recognised internationally as enabling healthcare organisations to meet the needs of their populations and continuously improve care.
“We’re pleased to publish this new QMS framework and methodology, which we hope will support organisations throughout NHS Wales to put quality at the centre of how they operate as part of providing the best possible healthcare for the people of Wales.
“This is an exciting early step towards providing wider national support for the delivery of effective quality management systems throughout NHS Wales. We’re currently developing further resources and support which will be introduced as part of the forthcoming phase of the Safe Care Partnership.
“We also look forward to continue working with national and international partners, including NHS Scotland and the Health Improvement Alliance Europe, to contribute to driving forward developments around quality management systems in healthcare.”
You can read the Developing a Quality Management System paper here, or for further information or support please contact: NHSWHC.Qualityandsafety@wales.nhs.uk.