Quality Management of GP Appraisal

To ensure the appraisal process itself is fit for purpose and meets defined quality standards, the Unit has a comprehensive Quality Management Framework. We define Quality Management (QM) as an overarching framework for managing policies, systems, processes and activities relating to GP Appraisal and CPD in Wales.

QM is integrated into all our work and has been a crucial element of the GP appraisal process in Wales since its inception and pilot in 2001.

The aim of QM is to ensure that GP Appraisal and CPD continuously develop in order to meet, and wherever possible exceed, defined quality standards.

Our strategy is to deliver Quality Management through the related processes of Quality Control (QC), Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Improvement (QI) . QM is a continuous cycle: QA reviews the effectiveness of QC; QI is informed by both QC and QI; the outcomes of QI feed back into QC and their implementation is reviewed through QA.

The Quality Standards (QS) for GP Appraisal and CPD are based on national standards as defined by external organisations including the General Medical Council (GMC), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Revalidation Support Team (England).

Additionally, the Unit works collaboratively with partner organisations both within Wales and further afield, including for example the Health Board Medical Directors and their teams, the Welsh Assembly Government, GP Committee Wales and centrally, Royal College of GPs Wales and centrally, Public Health Wales, the Community Health Councils, the Business Service Centres, the General Medical Council, and the Revalidation Support Team (England). These interactions enable us to ensure the appraisal process meets the needs of key stakeholders and is continuously updated and improved to address changing external requirements.