This work adopts a modern approach to quality assurance and quality improvement in general practice. It provides an introduction to the subject, enabling readers to see how best to proceed in their own practices. It revises and updates previous books by Donald and Sally Irvine on clinical audit by placing audit within the wider quality context. It is designed to provide an easily accessible approach to the basic tenets as well as speculating on the future developments in this area, and should be of interest to all members of the practice team. The themes of the book are illustrated by reference to the five major case studies provided, which describe in some detail the various ways of starting, implementing and maintaining quality assurance in general practice today. Practical examples of Total Quality Management, the use of British Standard 5750, Kings Fund organizational audit, Investors in People, and Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners by assessment, are also provided. These studies are written by the practitioners, medical and non-medical, who have themselves been through the experience of turning theory into practice.

Sir Donald Irvine asks what further changes have to be made to the culture and regulation of medicine to make it as trustworthy as the public today expects. As President of the General Medical Council between 1995 and 2002, Sir Donald helped shape the changes that followed disasters like the deaths of babies at Bristol and the murders of Dr Harold Shipman. In this frenetic period a new ethos of professionalism emerged, embodying the concept of the autonomous patient and more robust, transparent professional regulation founded on a partnership between the public and doctors. Sir Donald discusses candidly the struggles in the profession and with successive Governments over the key issues. He provides perspectives that are both startling and enlightening. He criticises the British Medical Association for its past resistance to accept the need for change, and explains why its role in the future must be radically different. He calls for specific fundamental changes to the National Health Service, and for Government to be separated from managing the provision of healthcare. And he outlines the qualities that the bodies regulating doctors in the future must have to succeed. In part a personal testimony, in part a clarion call for doctors to secure the new culture and re-establish public confidence, The Doctors' Tale is gripping and essential reading for everyone who cares about health.