NHS England: Implementing quality management systems in the NHS (17 September 2026)

Summary

As quality depends on the decisions made every day, it should be part of daily planning, decision-making and operational delivery, not checked after the event or seen as a separate governance process. A quality management system (QMS) can help NHS organisations do this by providing a consistent approach, creating a clearer link between patient care, organisational priorities and board oversight. This guide explains how a QMS works and includes an example implementation plan that organisations can adapt to their local context.