Simon Watson, Chief Quality Officer introduces our approach to developing NHS Lothian’s Quality Management System.

In order to provide high quality, high value care for people today and in the future, NHS Lothian is creating an enhanced whole organisation approach to quality assurance and improvement.

This is a major undertaking and so, to lead this ambitious and important work, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Simon Watson to the post of Chief Quality Officer.

This is a new way of approaching quality in NHS Lothian.  With this approach to service improvement we aim to deliver ‘high quality, safe and person-centred care at the most affordable cost’. This acknowledges that every £1million of waste, unnecessary or inappropriate costs in one area of our system, denies us the opportunity to invest that £1million in another area of our system.

This approach will embrace clinical pathways and processes across primary, secondary and social care services, physical and mental health services and engage senior clinicians and managersin our acute hospitals and our four Health and Social Care Partnerships.