Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services
I have today launched a consultation about the duty of quality – this is one of four parts of the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020. It is intended to bring the duty into force from 1 April 2023.
Our aim will be to commence the strengthened Duty of Quality on Welsh Ministers (with regards to their health-related functions) and NHS bodies (Local Health Boards, NHS Trusts and Special Health Authorities) in Wales.
Ultimately, the purpose of the duty of quality is to ensure that Welsh Ministers and NHS bodies secure improvements in the quality of services they provide. The duty represents our ambition of achieving ever-higher standards of person-centred health services in Wales.
Quality is more than just meeting service standards. It needs to be a system-wide way of working. Quality means safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and person-centred health care which is embedded within a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
The duty requires Welsh Ministers and NHS bodies to actively consider these domains of quality when making decisions about health services so that improved outcomes are secured. This supports the five ways of working (long term, integration, involvement, collaboration and prevention) within the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 [1] as well as promoting the well-being goal of A Healthier Wales[2].
I would welcome people’s and organisations’ views about the duty of quality guidance, which incorporates the new Quality standards 2023 replacing the previously published Health and Care Standards 2015.
Through this consultation, I look forward to engaging with all those who have an interest in promoting a culture of honesty and transparency in the NHS. The consultation period ends on 13 January 2023. The link to the consultation can be found here: https://gov.wales/duty-quality
[1] Welsh Government (2015) Well-being of Future generation (Wales) Act https://www.futuregenerations.wales/about-us/future-generations-act/
[2] Welsh Government (2019) A Healthier Wales: our Plan for Health and Social Care https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-10/a-healthier-wales-action-plan.pdf