QUALITY ASSURANCE IN GENERAL-PRACTICE

This chapter traces the development of quality assurance in general practice over the last quarter of a century. The practical implementation of quality assurance in British general practice is set against experience in other countries. Examples illustrate how ideas for improving care have already been incorporated into normal practice. We describe some of the methods currently in use and speculate about how systems of professional accreditation might become acceptable. Finally we consider the future role of quality assurance in general practice.