amela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) received full accreditation from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) during September, thus signifying further progress on the HA's continuous quality improvement journey.

To develop a sustainable quality improvement system and deliver cost-effective healthcare services in a safe environment, the HA has embarked on a pilot programme to gain international accreditation in five hospitals. Besides PYNEH, ACHS surveyors have already finished organisation-wide surveys and assessments of clinical, support and corporate operations at Caritas Medical Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital. More good news about accreditations is expected in the coming months.

In line with the pilot programme, the ACHS Evaluation and Quality Improvement Programme (EQulP 4) Hong Kong Guide has been developed by the Task Force on Standards, which consists of representatives from the HA, Department of Health and Private Hospital Association. It will be published in November.

Endorsed by the International Society for Quality in Health Care, the Guide takes the circumstances of Hong Kong hospitals into account, and it will be used to evaluate them for accreditation in the future.