Spotlight on… clinical governance and patient safety

Abstract

Over the past few years, a substantial shift has occurred in how we deliver care to our patients. Although many factors can be beyond our control, we need to learn to adapt and move with the times to ensure we deliver the best care possible. Adhering to good clinical governance allows us to maintain high standards in the care we deliver to our patients. Governance seeks to reduce the wide disparity in care between various locations throughout the UK. Clinical governance can be described in many different ways, most commonly through its seven pillars: information and IT; patient and public involvement; education and training; staff management; risk management; clinical audit; and clinical effectiveness. Using these pillars as standards, we review the various articles published in recent issues of The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG) that help guide us to improve in our clinical practice.