Part 2Health service bodies

Chapter 2NHS trusts

20AF1Duty of NHS trusts to secure quality in health services

1

Each NHS trust must exercise its functions with a view to securing improvement in the quality of health services.

2

For the purposes of this section—

  • “health services” means any services provided or secured in accordance with this Act;

  • “quality” includes, but is not limited to, quality in terms of—

    1. a

      the effectiveness of health services,

    2. b

      the safety of health services, and

    3. c

      the experience of individuals to whom health services are provided.

3

Each NHS trust must publish an annual report on the steps it has taken to comply with the duty in subsection (1).

4

The report must include an assessment of the extent of any improvement in outcomes achieved by virtue of those steps.

5

The Welsh Ministers must issue guidance to NHS trusts in relation to the requirements imposed by subsections (1) and (3).

6

The guidance must, in particular, include guidance about—

a

the evidence to be used in support of an assessment required by this section, and

b

the conduct of such an assessment.

7

Each NHS trust must have regard to guidance issued under subsection (5).