The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has been chosen by the Department of Health from over 120 applications to participate in the testing phase of a new scheme to ensure good quality information across the health and social care sector.
The information accreditation scheme will combat substantial variation in the quality of health and social care information available and will provide a way for the public and professionals to know that the information they are using is reliable.
It will also support information producers in raising general standards and will be focused at the organisation level – accrediting the source of information rather than the information itself.
The Royal Marsden is testing the scheme alongside others from the commercial, public and voluntary sectors. Subject to achieving certification through this testing phase, will become one of the first scheme members when it launches in 2009.
Ann Keen MP, the parliamentary under-secretary for health services, said, “There is so much information out there that it’s hard for people – both the public and professionals – to know what can be relied upon. A scheme with a recognisable quality mark, will assure them that information is from a dependable source.
“Over 120 applications were received by the Department of Heath and The Royal Marsden is one of just 40 organisations to have successfully made it through the application process. The work of these test sites will be invaluable in providing knowledge and insight for organisations who are considering joining the scheme in the future.”
As part of the testing phase we will be involved in:
- testing the scheme Standard
- sharing our experiences in order to support the development of case studies
- helping to develop the visual identity of the quality mark.
We will keep you updated on our progress over the coming months.
For further information on the scheme contact Clare Wener, Department of Health, on 020 7972 3726 or email
accreditation@dh.gsi.gov.uk