The role of information governance within English clinical governance: Observations based upon the interim report from the NIGC of the Care Quality Commission
Clinical Governance: An International Journal
ISSN: 1477-7274
Article publication date: 5 January 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is designed to explore the relationship between information and clinical governance in the English NHS.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is a personal reflection based upon the interim report of the National Information Governance Committee (NIGC) of the Care Quality Commission.
Findings
The contribution of the NIGC to clinical governance in England has been significant for a number of reasons. Most notably, it has been embedded at the heart of an organisation concerned with the whole spectrum of health and social care, with a role where information is seen predominately as a means to deliver better care rather than an end in itself. The recommendation to establish a specific and mandatory information governance (IG) element of the inspection regime reflects the fact that without validation of the evidence base, the whole inspection regime may be seen as resting on insecure foundations, and provides re-assurance in the integrity of the whole inspection process, well beyond the scope of IG.
Originality/value
The paper provides an insight into policy making at the heart of clinical governance, and its relationship with IG. It highlights the fact that the work of the NIGC has placed validation of information at the heart of the new CQC inspection regime, providing increased confidence in the information on which the rest of the inspection process is based.
Keywords
Citation
Gillies, A. (2015), "The role of information governance within English clinical governance: Observations based upon the interim report from the NIGC of the Care Quality Commission", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/CGIJ-02-2015-0003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited