EQUIP

History

EQUIP (Education and Quality in Practice) was formed in 1996 by the amalgamation of the North Essex components of the Essex Medical Audit Advisory Group (MAAG) which had been in existence since 1990 and GP Education in Essex, which had been in existence since 1992.Prior to April 1996, the organisation had worked across the whole of Essex, but with the division of Essex into North and South Health Authorities, EQUIP took the lead role in co-ordinating audit and education programmes in primary care in North Essex working within the NHS family.Dr John Guy, MAAG Chair since 1990, remains Clinical Lead for EQUIP and Linda Grimstead, who managed both previous organisations, remains Manager of the organisation.The majority of active Board members have also been with the organisation since its inception. North Essex Health Authority (NEHA) agreed a delegated budget for the management of an agreed programme of activity and the original partnership was in 1997.

Description

EQUIP aims to improve the quality of care in chronic diseases in general practice through education, anticipatory care and audit by developing and utilising all the skills within the practice team. PCTs or practices can commission specific training ranging from accredited Health Care Assistant and Receptionist courses to specific clinical courses such as minor operations and anticoagulation courses through to employment law.In relation to audit and the new contract, our audit co-ordinator and Audit & IT Lead are able to work with practices and advise on areas such as templates, Read Codes and data entry.EQUIP can provide training for all members of the primary health care team and these are detailed in our list of courses.