Get in Touch

Quality Improvement

Our Quality Improvement (QI) hub drives a culture of continuous improvement throughout our Trust and beyond.

Feel free to email us at QI@ghc.nhs.uk with any questions. 

Learn more about Quality Improvement

In Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust we use the ‘Model for Improvement’ to guide QI work. It is a tried and tested scientific method widely used in healthcare and recommended by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) who describe it as a ‘simple but powerful tool for improvement’.

Some of the benefits of the Model for Improvement include:

  • It is proven to be highly effective, particularly in healthcare settings
  • It has applications for many types of projects and at any scale
  • It reduces risk by starting small and systematically testing change before implementing change on a wider scale

The Model for Improvement sets out:

Aim – What are we trying to accomplish? 

Measures – How will we know that our change is an improvement? 

Change/Ideas – What changes can we make that will result in the improvement we seek? 

Testing the idea – Plan, Do, Study, Act

 

How we train people in QI

The QI training pathway is as follows: 

  • Pocket QI – a bitesize introduction perfect for those looking to find out more about QI 
  • Bronze QI – a course for those interested in learning about the basics of QI, being part of a project or lead on a small-scale project within their service
  • Silver QI – advanced training giving you a deeper understanding of QI and support for your projects. 
  • Gold QI – for colleagues who have completed bronze and silver and who want to move on to the next stage,and become a QI coach.  

 

 

Examples of our QI projects

Our projects involve a wide range of services. Some examples include:

  • Well Woman Wednesdays at Wotton Lawn Hospital, in Gloucester. This was aimed at early identification of the signs of cervical cancer for women with mental health conditions.
  • The Wheelchair Service. Aimed at reducing waiting times and increasing participation.
Co-Production

Co-production in Quality Improvement (QI) is essential. Co-production is a way of working that involves people who use health and care services, carers and communities in equal partnership; and which engages groups of people at the earliest stages of service design, development and evaluation. Co-production acknowledges that people with ‘lived experience’ of a particular condition are often best placed to advise on what support and services will make a positive difference to their lives.

Our trust has an Experts by Experience programme that is overseen by the Partnerships & Inclusion Team. The Experts by Experience consists of carers and people who have used our services. 

We involve the people who use our services in a range of ways through QI. 

Find out more

You can find out more by getting in touch via our email or by following us on Twitter at @GHCQIHub. 

You can find out more about the Model for Improvement here: How to Improve | IHI – Institute for Healthcare Improvement

 

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