The Joint Advisory Group for Gastro-Intestinal Endoscopy / Global Rating Scale (JAG/GRS)
The Joint Advisory Group for Gastro-Intestinal Endoscopy (JAG) ensures the quality and safety of endoscopy practice in the UK. The Global Rating Scale (GRS) is a web-based self-assessment tool used by NHS Boards to assess how well they provide a patient centred service for endoscopy. Completion of the GRS is an essential component of the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Standards for the Bowel Screening Programme (Standard 6: Colonoscopy and Histopathology).
The principle purpose of GRS is to improve the quality of patient care across a range of measures which are based on clinical quality and patient experience. This tool was originally developed and implemented in England and is now widely used by NHS Boards throughout Scotland. Scottish NHS Boards participate in a biannual national census, held each April and October, when the GRS self-assessment tool is updated. The Quality Improvement Team reports on the results of these censuses by hospital and helps develop and monitor clinical indicators using Scotland-wide datasets held by ISD. An example of such an indicator is the proportion of people that are discharged alive from hospital after a flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy.
