Quality Assurance
Professional regulation & standards
Dr Adam Harris has worked as a consultant physician and gastroenterologist since 1997. He is registered with the General Medical Council and has a licence to practise general medicine and gastroenterology (www.gmc-uk.org). Dr Harris has many different professional roles and responsibilities at national (NICE Ulcerative Colitis Guideline Development Group; British Society of Gastroenterology [BSG] Lead for Revalidation; Deputy Chair BSG Clinical Service & Standards Committee; BSG Independent Practice Committee [Chairman 2009-11] and Secretary to BSG [2005-9], regional (Chair of Kent Inflammatory Bowel Disease [IBD] Forum) and local (Chair, Spire Hospital Endoscopy User's Group; Clinical Lead for IBD at Tunbridge Wells Hospital) levels. He was awarded a Bronze Clinical Excellence Award in 2007 (renewed 2011) by the Department of Health.
Endoscopy
The quality of endoscopy and safety of the patient are our highest priorities. Prospective continuous audits are undertaken to monitor use of sedation, completion of colonoscopy, polyp detection and removal, complications and comfort levels of our patients. Results are compared with national data, discussed at the Endoscopy User's Group meeting and contribute towards the Supporting Evidence for Dr Harris' annual appraisal - a mandatory requirement for re-licensing each year and revalidation every 5 years (www.gmc-uk.org).
Hospital acquired infections
C difficile infection rates at Spire Hospital are negligible (www.spirehealthcare.com/TunbridgeWells/Healthcare-Standards/?pageref=06_c-difficile) and MRSA infection rates are extremely low, typically less than 1/10th of the NHS (www.spirehealthcare.com/TunbridgeWells/Healthcare-Standards/?pageref=05_mrsa+blood+infections)