The quality initiative of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The Quality Initiative of the Royal College of General Practitioners was set up in 1983 to promote the methods of quality assurance to general practitioners, and to answer some of the concerns of Government about the quality of general practice. Many small projects have been carried out, and this paper describes several undertaken by one faculty of the College, including studies of paediatric surveillance, the care of the elderly, and peer review visits to some members practices. General practitioners are now more positive about quality assurance, but the political debate about the future of primary care in the United Kingdom continues.