Governance Policy

 

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  1. Provide General Medical Services to the patient population of the practice in an appropriate atmosphere of caring, security and cleanliness.
  2. Provide a professional, efficient, caring service to all patients of the practice
  3. Recognise the diversity, values and human rights of people using the service
  4. Ensure the people using the service are at the centre of their care, treatment and support by enabling them to make decisions.
  5. Provide information that supports people who use the service and others acting on their behalf, to make decisions and to understand about the care, treatment and support provided.
  6. Uphold and maintain the privacy, dignity and independence of people using the service
  7. Enable people who use services to care for themselves where this is possible
  8. Encourage and enable people who use services to be an active part of their community in appropriate settings
 

Introduction

This Framework describes the arrangements intended to provide a foundation for effective governance as the cornerstone of a well-managed organisation.  The framework is based on the NHS England Corporate Governance Policy.  These arrangements will be reviewed annually to ensure they remain fit for purpose, enabling the organisation to do everything within its power to support the delivery of excellent NHS services.

 

Values, Aims, Principles, Behaviours & Accountability

In order to meet its high aspirations for openness and accountability, Amherst Medical Practice aims to be transparent about the decisions it makes and the way in which it operates. This section of the corporate governance framework sets out values, aims, principles, behaviours and accountability arrangements which, together, will have a major influence on the culture of an organisation which is committed to openness, as well as to the people and communities it serves.

We are focused on putting patients, clinicians and carers at the centre of decision-making in order to improve health outcomes and we will achieve this by being open, evidence-based and inclusive.

 

Aims

Through its governance arrangements the practice aims to:

  • Ensure it meets its statutory obligations;
  • Ensure effective stewardship of public funds;
  • Maximise the effectiveness of the organisation; and,
  • Be a model of excellence in corporate governance by adopting the highest standards of business conduct.

The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all irrespective of:

  • gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

It has a duty to each and every individual that it serves and must respect their human rights. At the same time, it has a wider social duty to promote equality through the services it provides and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population;

Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not on an individual’s ability to pay. NHS services are free of charge, except in limited circumstances sanctioned by Parliament;

The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism –

  • in the provision of high-quality care that is safe, effective and focused on patient experience;
  • in the planning and delivery of the clinical and other services it provides;
  • in the people it employs, and the education, training and development they receive;
  • in the leadership and management of this organisation;

NHS services must reflect the needs and preferences of patients: 

  • their families and their carers. Patients, with their families and carers, where appropriate, will be involved in and consulted on all decisions about their care and treatment;

The NHS works across organisational boundaries and in partnership with other organisations in the interest of patients, local communities and the wider population. The NHS is an integrated system of organisations and services bound together by the principles and values now reflected in the Constitution. The NHS is committed to working jointly with local authorities and a wide range of other private, public and third sector organisations at national and local level to provide and deliver improvements in health and well-being;

The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money and the most effective, fair and sustainable use of finite resources. Public funds for healthcare will be devoted solely to the benefit of the people that the NHS serves;

The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves. The NHS is a national service funded through national taxation, and it is the Government which sets the framework for the NHS and which is accountable to Parliament for its operation. However, most decisions in the NHS, especially those about the treatment of individuals and the detailed organisation of services, are rightly taken by the local NHS and by patients with their clinicians. The system of responsibility and accountability for taking decisions in the NHS should be transparent and clear to the public, patients and staff.

 

Principles

In addition, the Amherst Medical Practice will observe the highest standards of probity in relation to the stewardship of public funds, the management of the organisation, and the conduct of its business.

  • Selflessness: take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or other friends.
  • Integrity: Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
  • Objectivity: In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit
  • Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
  • Openness: Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all their decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
  • Honesty: Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
  • Leadership: Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
  • Behaviours: The Amherst Medical Practice strives to lead by example
  1. We prioritise patients in every decision we take: Everything we do is directly connected to our purpose of improving outcomes – not a process, not an organisation, not a profession – but the people who are at the heart of all that we do.
  2. We listen and learn: We believe everybody has good ideas and has the right to be listened to carefully and thoughtfully. We respect and support each other, building trust and empowering one another and staff across the NHS, to achieve the highest standards.
  3. We are evidence-based: We listen to the people and communities we serve, we look at insight and evidence and we measure our outcomes, so that our decisions are objective and we understand their impact.
  4. We are open and transparent: We are accountable and we take individual and collective responsibility for our actions. We act with integrity and we are transparent about the decisions we make, the way we operate and the impact we have.
  5. We are inclusive: We work in partnership with patients, clinicians in the NHS, the public and our partners because we get the very best outcomes when we work together with common purpose.
  6. We strive for improvement: We believe we can always do better for patients and will challenge and seek challenge. We share ideas and knowledge and take risks because we believe in innovation and learn from our mistakes.