The Functional Gut Clinic has become the first gastrointestinal organisation to be granted UKAS accreditation under the Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) programme. The accreditation award is for the clinic’s range of gastrointestinal (GI) services carried out at its four clinics across London and Kent.
Dr Kerry Tinkler, clinical lead for the IQIPS programme, said:
It is fantastic to have the first accredited GI physiology service provider! This achievement of IQIPS accreditation by the Functional Gut Clinic marks real progress in the drive for patient focused high quality care and I hope that it will prompt other GI physiology services to join the IQIPS programme. Achieving accreditation provides reassurance of the high quality of the service for patients, users of the service and commissioners as well as being a ‘badge’ of quality that the staff can be proud of, well done to all at the Functional Gut Clinic.
- Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) is an accreditation scheme. The process of accreditation involves self-assessment followed by peer assessment. Preparing for and maintaining accreditation involves multidisciplinary teams reviewing how they deliver services and care; and how they are performing when measured against professional standards. IQIPS spans many disciplines, including audiology, cardiac and gastrointestinal physiology, neurophysiology, ophthalmic and vision science, respiratory and sleep physiology, urodynamics and vascular science. The IQIPS accreditation programme is delivered by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in partnership with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
- The Functional Gut Clinic was established in 2013 and is run by Alimentary Innervations Limited. It aims to consolidate knowledge, expertise and technological advances in neurogastroenterology, to create new opportunities for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients in a complex clinical area.
- The UKAS is the National Accreditation Body (NAB) for the UK. Its role is to assess evaluating organisations to international standards. UKAS operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and is a non-profit-distributing company limited by guarantee. UKAS accreditation involves assessment of certification, inspection, testing and calibration services. UKAS employs over 300 assessors and technical experts, and has over 40 years experience.