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
News & Views
Read the latest news from Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
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New Associate Non-Executive Director for Board
A new Associate Non-Executive Director has been appointed to the Trust’s Board. Vicci Livingstone-Thompson is the Chief Executive Officer of Inclusion Gloucestershire, a user-led organisation working to further inclusion and champion the voice of people facing...
![Sustainability](https://b2209783.smushcdn.com/2209783/wp-content/uploads/green-plan-image-1080x675.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Sustainability
The Trust's Sustainability Strategy has just been published, laying out our approach for the next three years. Sustainability is one of our four strategic aims, alongside high-quality care, better health and being a great place to work. We have been working hard to be...
![New Non-Executive Director Appointed to Trust Board](https://b2209783.smushcdn.com/2209783/wp-content/uploads/NED-Nicola-798x675.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
New Non-Executive Director Appointed to Trust Board
A new Non-Executive Director called Nicola de Longh has been appointed to the Board of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.