Quality assurance: using BS 5750 in health care settings

This article places the issue of standards within the arena of a quality service. It argues that standards of quality can only be turned into reality if they are developed through the discipline of a quality assurance system, combined with the motivation of a quality culture. A quality assurance system, British Standard (BS) 5750, is briefly outlined and attention is given to examining the mechanisms for defining the specific requirements necessary to develop quality assurance within residential care homes. This is based on the authors' experience of working with Napier House, the first caring enterprise in Europe working directly with patients or residents to obtain the BS 5750.