Clinical Governance at Buckinghamshire Medical
Buckinghamshire Medical is committed to delivering safe, effective, and clinically appropriate care through a robust clinical governance framework.
Clinical governance underpins all services and ensures that patient safety, quality, and accountability remain central as care is delivered across remote, mobile, and in-person settings.
Our governance model supports consistent decision-making, while remaining responsive to individual needs and appropriate escalation.
Governance Framework and Accountability
All services operate within defined governance arrangements with clear accountability.
Clinical oversight ensures that services are designed, reviewed, and delivered in line with current clinical guidance, professional standards, and regulatory requirements. This includes oversight of assessment pathways, prescribing frameworks, safeguarding arrangements, and escalation processes.
Safe Care Delivery
All individuals are assessed through structured medical assessment processes designed to ensure care is appropriate and safe.
- Care typically begins with a remote assessment
- Suitability for remote care is assessed on a case-by-case basis
- Where remote care is not appropriate, individuals are offered in-person assessment, alternative arrangements, or signposting
- Defined exclusion criteria are used to identify conditions requiring urgent or alternative pathways
This approach ensures care is delivered in the right setting, at the right time, with appropriate safeguards in place.
Remote Care and Prescribing Governance
Remote services are supported by clear policies, decision frameworks, and standard operating procedures.
These include:
- suitability and exclusion criteria for remote care
- structured assessment and documentation standards
- prescribing decision frameworks and safeguards
- clear escalation and safety-netting arrangements
Prescribing decisions are made in line with professional guidance and best practice, with safety and appropriateness as the primary considerations.
Safeguarding
Buckinghamshire Medical is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
All relevant staff are trained to recognise safeguarding concerns and understand their responsibilities. Where appropriate, information may be shared with relevant agencies or professionals in line with legal and professional obligations.
Policies, Procedures, and Standards
Care delivery is supported by a comprehensive and regularly reviewed suite of policies and procedures, including:
- remote and mobile care delivery
- prescribing and medicines management
- safeguarding and lone working
- data protection and confidentiality
- incident reporting and risk management
- complaints handling and patient feedback
These standards support consistency, safety, and regulatory compliance across all services.
Incident Reporting and Learning
We promote a culture of openness, learning, and continuous improvement.
Incidents, near misses, and concerns are recorded, reviewed, and analysed to identify learning and reduce future risk. Insights are used to improve systems, processes, and service delivery.
Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
Quality assurance is embedded into everyday operations.
This includes:
- regular review of service activity
- monitoring of patient feedback and complaints
- review of incidents and safety data
- reflection and improvement planning
Feedback is actively used to inform service development and maintain high standards of care.
Governance for Products and Services
Where healthcare-related products or non-consultation services are offered, the same governance principles apply.
Structured suitability assessments, defined exclusion criteria, and escalation pathways are used to ensure products and services are offered safely and appropriately. Clinical review is undertaken where indicated, and prescribing decisions remain separate from product supply or fulfilment.
Regulatory Compliance
Buckinghamshire Medical operates in line with:
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards
- General Medical Council (GMC) guidance
- UK GDPR and data protection legislation
- relevant professional and ethical standards
Our Commitment
Our clinical governance framework ensures care is:
- safe
- consistent
- evidence-based
- patient-centred
This framework supports high standards today, while enabling services to scale reliably, responsibly, and sustainably.