Clinical Governance
What is clinical governance?
Clinical governance is a system through which healthcare providers 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.
Why is clinical governance important?
- It’s about being accountable, taking professional responsibility, having the right systems and processes in place and about continuously improving what we do.
- It is a fundamental element of healthcare practice. It is a continuing process not an event.
- It is relevant to everyone – from counter assistants to technicians, pharmacists and pharmacy contractors.
Visit CPE for more info on the following:
- Guidance for pharmacy contractors
- Related resources
- Audit
- Business continuity & emergency planning
- CPPQ (patient satisfaction survey) Now replaced by Annual Workforce Survey
- Complaints procedures
- Practice leaflet requirements
- Patient safety incident reporting
- Raising concerns (Whistle-blowing)
- Chaperone policy
- Clinical governance lead
- Confidentiality
For contacts at the ICB around Governance, Patient Satisfaction, Claims Report etc.. please click here to view the Pharmacy Contact List.
Clinical Governance
| Topic | Requirements | By when? |
| Data Security and Protection Toolkit
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To use the Data Security and Protection Toolkit to complete and submit an annual information governance (IG) return. | Usually by the 30th June each year.
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| Workforce Survey (previously CPPQ)
|
Since 2022, it has been a Terms of Service requirement for pharmacy owners to complete an annual NHS England community pharmacy workforce survey. Find out more. | Usually by December each year.
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| Clinical audit
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To conduct two audits each year: one on a topic of your choice* and one determined nationally by NHS England and NHS Improvement
*Please note, any audits undertaken as part of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme cannot be used as the pharmacy’s own audit. |
Usually by the 31st of March each year.
|
A fourth clinical governance requirement, whilst not due by 31 March, should be completed shortly afterwards and as such it is best to begin work towards achieving this alongside the requirements listed above.
| Complaints report | To prepare an annual report each year and send a copy to the local NHS England team. | As soon as reasonably practical after the 31st march each year. |
