Group Quality and Clinical Governance

NHG’s Group Quality and Clinical Governance (GQCG) develops, implements, and evaluates corporate strategies and plans to achieve quality and patient safety, and manages clinical risk across the Group and in the Regional Health System. While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted standard operating processes, it also presented opportunities for process redesign. This in turn enabled GQCG to provide leadership and guidance to staff, the community, and the healthcare fraternity in matters of safety, risk, improvement, and innovation.

ENHANCING HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MIGRANT WORKERS

When COVID-19 outbreaks were detected among the migrant worker population in Singapore, NHG helped set up Medical Centres for Migrant Workers (MCMW) in the dormitories. GQCG worked with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to create a new audit framework, train staff in auditing practices, and audited 13 MCMW.

ENHANCING SAFETY AND QUALITY IN CLINICAL CARE

The NHG Harm Reduction Collaborative unit held its on-boarding meeting in July 2020 to welcome members of the Implementation Committee and Expert Panel. Helmed by institution representatives and in partnership with external experts, the unit aims to implement enhanced safe practices in clinical care.

As part of on-going efforts to strengthen risk awareness, GQCG launched a new publication, Quality Bulletin, which shares bite-size information on patient safety and quality improvement across NHG. In addition, training resources on management of clinical risks were developed for the first time to complement training programmes at NHG Institutions.