The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has launched the RCGP Innovation Unit, an initiative to provide a stronger lead from the College in matters concerning clinical governance and innovative approaches to quality of primary healthcare delivery.

Dr Steve Cox and Dr Sathya Naidoo will be Joint Medical Directors of the Unit, which officially takes over and expands on the work of the RCGP Quality Unit from Monday 1 May. Dr Cox , who is a GP and GP tutor active in clinical governance in Merseyside and Dr Naidoo ,Associate GP Director at Trent Deanery will bring complementary skills and experience to this shared post.

The initiative for the Innovation Unit was provided by RCGP chairman Dr Mayur Lakhani who saw the potential to expand on the work of current successful College developments, such as Quality Practice Award and the MRCGP exam.

Dr Lakhani said, "This is a ground breaking move by the College to strengthen its strategic function. In this way, we can drive up standards of patient care even more. This will help us ensure the systematic application of innovation and learning."

The Unit's remit includes:

-- Horizon Scanning, developing, testing and piloting initiatives for the College to enhance its work both internally and externally

-- Disseminating good practice and acting as a source of advice and expertise for Leaders in Clinical Governance and for GPs and their Practice Teams

-- Building on existing links with national organisations, such as NICE, SIGN and Primary Care Organisations and forging new links, with the aim of enhancement of quality initiatives within primary care.

Dr Cox is inspired by the vision, "It is our intention that the Innovation Unit will lead the evaluation and implementation of exciting new projects within general practice for the College. We have set the goal of assisting colleagues to deliver improved patient care through quality initiatives, lifelong learning, and innovative practice projects. The Innovation Unit will harvest ideas for its work from within current UK and International Primary Care, as well as the academic establishment."

Further information on the RCGP Innovation Unit can be found here rcgp/quality_unit/index.asp

A full list of the Innovation Unit's remit can be viewed at
rcgp/quality_unit/purpose.asp

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom solely for GPs. It aims to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and to act as the "voice" of GPs on issues concerned with education; training; research; and clinical standards. Founded in 1952, the RCGP has over 22,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline.
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