This work adopts a modern approach to quality assurance and quality improvement in general practice. It provides an introduction to the subject, enabling readers to see how best to proceed in their own practices. It revises and updates previous books by Donald and Sally Irvine on clinical audit by placing audit within the wider quality context. It is designed to provide an easily accessible approach to the basic tenets as well as speculating on the future developments in this area, and should be of interest to all members of the practice team. The themes of the book are illustrated by reference to the five major case studies provided, which describe in some detail the various ways of starting, implementing and maintaining quality assurance in general practice today. Practical examples of Total Quality Management, the use of British Standard 5750, Kings Fund organizational audit, Investors in People, and Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners by assessment, are also provided. These studies are written by the practitioners, medical and non-medical, who have themselves been through the experience of turning theory into practice.