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This short course takes a fresh approach to Quality Improvement (QI) in healthcare, moving beyond traditional methodologies to introduce systemic Quality Thinking. Designed for professionals seeking to deepen their understanding and impact, this course provides practical frameworks and tools to drive meaningful and sustainable quality improvements. Participants will explore the historical and contemporary contexts of quality, examine systemic influences, and challenge dominant quality paradigms through interactive discussions and case studies.

The course welcomes anyone involved in improving quality (Safety, Effectiveness, Patient-Centredness, Timeliness, Efficiency, and Equitability) in healthcare settings in primary and secondary care domestically and internationally. Including practising clinicians, leaders, quality practitioners and patients involved in improvement work.

This course would be beneficial to:

• Clinicians and healthcare leaders involved in quality improvement
• NHS and private healthcare professionals
• Quality practitioners and improvement leads
• Patients and advocates engaged in healthcare improvement work
• Organisations seeking a systemic approach to quality enhancement

This course explores:

• Core concepts of quality and their contemporary relevance
• Frameworks for identifying and acting on systemic quality challenges
• Methods to critically assess and refine current quality models
• Practical approaches to improving safety, effectiveness, efficiency, and patient-centered care
• Peer-based critique of principles derived from global healthcare systems and research

The Core Concepts of Quality modules will cover:

1.    Core Concepts

• Founding developments and intentions of quality theory
• Key interpretations and misconceptions of quality theory
• Balancing variability and achieving the right outcomes
• Understanding the relationship between demand and capacity
• Introduction to Failure Demand

2.    Sources of Demand Failure

• Identifying and acting on the sources of Failure Demand
• Exploring domains for reducing Demand Failure:
• Defragmenting to Integrate
• Supporting Human Systems at Work
• Avoiding Specialist, Generalist, and Citizen Muddle
• Understanding Need

3.    Seeing Systems

• Learning to assess quality problems systemically
• Using frameworks to identify systemic influences on quality
• Developing action plans for addressing systemic challenges

4.    Quality thinking

• Examining dominant ideas that shape healthcare models
• Learning from global high-performing healthcare systems
• Identifying principles of Quality Thinking in action
• Addressing Failure Demand and the costs of poor quality

By the end of the course, participants will have achieved:

• A deeper understanding of Quality Thinking and systemic improvement methodologies
• Practical skills to critically assess and refine quality models
• The ability to identify and respond to systemic influences on healthcare quality
• Confidence in applying advanced quality improvement frameworks to real-world scenarios

Nick Downham
A leading expert in healthcare quality, systems thinking, and organisational development. Nick has extensive experience working with frontline teams and leadership across primary and secondary care, both domestically and internationally. He has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the largest quality improvement and leadership programs in the NHS. Passionate about driving systemic change, he co-authored Improving Quality in Healthcare – Questioning the Work for Effective Change (2024, Sage) alongside Murray Anderson-Wallace.

Murray Anderson-Wallace
A healthcare professional with a background in mental health services and psychological therapy, Murray is a qualified groupwork practitioner and systemic consultant. He has provided strategic guidance to national healthcare quality programs and networks worldwide. With a career spanning complex socio-cultural and ethical challenges in healthcare, Murray is a highly respected voice in quality improvement. He co-authored Improving Quality in Healthcare – Question the Work for Effective Change (Sage) and Networks in Healthcare: Managing Complex Relationships (Emerald) with Professor Becky Malby.

Dr Rebecca Myers
A seasoned executive director, clinician, and organisational development specialist with over 40 years of experience in and around the NHS. Rebecca has held senior leadership roles across the NHS, social services, and voluntary sectors, including eight years as a director. Her expertise includes transformation, integrated care, and emotionally supportive workplace cultures. She is a facilitator for Schwartz Rounds with the Point of Care Foundation and holds a Doctorate in Management focused on risk and emotional labour in healthcare. She co-authored Courage in Healthcare – A Necessary Virtue or a Warning Sign.

This course has a highly interactive and experiential learning approach, including:

• Group discussions and peer-based learning
• Case studies and real-world application exercises including participants’ local challenges 
• Film, audio, and simulation-based insights
• Practical frameworks to apply within participants' own work environments

This course runs for four days, 09:00 - 17:00, to be scheduled with your organisation.

This is a non-assessed professional development course. Participants will engage in discussions, group work, and case study applications to solidify learning outcomes.

This course is available to organisations who would like to enrol up to 20 participants for this four day development programme. Please contact lsbushortcourses@ac.uk to discuss participation.