IQIPS • 2 mins read
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We are approaching World Hearing Day 2024, celebrated on 3rd March. This year the awareness day explores various themes around the challenges posed by societal misconceptions and stigmatizing mindsets. As such it is an opportune moment to reflect on the crucial role accreditation plays in underpinning the quality of patient care in audiology services across the United Kingdom through UKAS’s implementation of the Improving Quality In Physiological Services (IQIPS) scheme.
UKAS accreditation against the IQIPS Standard is a national scheme across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, providing a framework for organisations to engage and align with Healthcare Provider Objectives. This alignment ensures that audiology services meet the appropriate standards of safety, effectiveness, and patient experience, contributing to consistently high-quality care.
The IQIPS scheme is also recognised by the Care Quality Commission, NHS Improvement, and professional physiology bodies as contributing to quality outcomes for patients. It is utilised by clinical commissioning groups and national specialised commissioners to improve healthcare performance, thus directly enhancing service quality.
IQIPS is a professionally led accreditation scheme aimed at improving services, care, and safety for patients undergoing physiological tests, examinations, and procedures. This ensures that the standards are set and maintained by experts in the field, further bolstering the quality of audiology services.
Embracing World Hearing Day
As we approach World Hearing Day it is an opportunity to recognise the integral role of accreditation in elevating the standard of audiology services in the UK. Through adherence to the IQIPS Standard via UKAS accreditation, audiology services are empowered to deliver exceptional care, contributing to the overall well-being of patients with hearing-related and/or balance concerns.
Through independent schemes such as IQIPS, we can continue to make steps towards raising awareness of hearing loss and countering misconceptions around hearing loss through aiding continual improvement. Let us continue to champion accreditation as a cornerstone of quality patient care in audiology services, not just on World Hearing Day, but every day.