National Quality Board

The National Quality Board is a key aspect of the work to deliver the goal of high quality care for patients.

To take forward this important work, the Department of Health has held a number of stakeholder events to shape the design of the National Quality Board. Stakeholders' views have shaped the NQB membership, its recruitments process and its role to provide strategic oversight and leadership in quality across the NHS

The aim of the Board will be to bring together all those with an interest in improving quality, to align and agree the NHS quality goals, whilst respecting the independent status of participating organisations.

Key functions of the Board are to:

  • ensure the overall alignment of the quality system
  • deliver on specific technical responsibilities including those set out in the Next Stage Review namely to: oversee the work to improve quality indicators, advise the Secretary of State on the priorities for clinical standards set by NICE, and make an annual report to the Secretary of State on the state of quality in England using internationally agreed comparable measures
  • assume a wider leadership responsibility for driving the quality agenda and acting as a 'powerhouse for change'.

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