YOUR CHANCE TO INFLUENCE DRUG TREATMENT 'CLINICAL GOVERNANCE'

Deadline 14 May 2008

Guidance on clinical governance in drug treatment is due to be published this summer. As part of this, the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse has today [21 February] published a draft - and is inviting treatment providers, commissioners/ purchasers and others to comment. The aim is to identify best practice.

The consultation document, Clinical Governance in Drug Treatment: A Draft Good Practice Guide for Providers and Commissioners, is being sent to key organisations in the drug treatment field and can be viewed here.

"Clinical governance is the mechanism to ensure implementation of changes in practice required by recent clinical guidance,” explained NTA director of quality, Annette Dale-Perera.

“Although well established in much of the NHS, clinical governance in the drug treatment system is complex and relatively unfamiliar in some parts. This consultation is an opportunity for people providing and commissioning treatment to influence the shape of the final guidance."

EXTRA INFO:

What is clinical governance - and what is it not? Click here.

The National Treatment Agency is a special health authority, established by government in 2001.  The Agency aims to increase the availability, capacity and effectiveness of substance misuse treatment in England.

Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management is available here.

The Nice suite of guidance on aspects of drug misuse treatment is available here.