News / New quality reports

Foundation trusts and all NHS providers in the East of England will give a statement on the quality of their care in their 2008/09 annual reports under new requirements.

Quality accounts have been piloted in the NHS East of England area, where acute, mental health and ambulance trusts, together with primary care trust provider arms, will prepare the reports for 2008/09. 

Though some NHS ­organisations had expressed concerns about the timeframe

for the introduction of quality reports, this will be a developmental year.

Organisations will have to produce a narrative on their care, respond to any concerns raised by regulators or members of the public and report on 2008/09 performance in patient safety, clinical effectiveness and patient experience.

Monitor has revised the foundation trust financial reporting manual to reflect the change and executive chair Bill Moyes said the narrative would be a key document.

‘This will have a real impact on the way the boards approach quality, and the way in which they discuss quality with the public,’ he said.