Overcoming synecdoche: Why practice development and quality improvement approaches should be better integrated

We are pleased to be provided with an opportunity to comment on the thoughtful article by Gavin Lavery about the relationship between practice development and quality improvement, published in 2016 in the IPDJ. We also respect and value the opportunity to bring different perspectives together – something alluded to in Lavery’s article when discussing the relationship between service improvement and quality improvement. We acknowledge Lavery’s humility and openness to different perspectives as demonstrated by his willingness to participate in a foundation practice development school. We also accept that there are many different ways of achieving the same outcomes, by using a range of tools flexibly based on shared and common principles, as well as knowing the people you work with and being clear about purpose. At a time of scant resources in healthcare, it is vital that we avoid duplication and integrate approaches if service users are to experience the continuity and seamlessness of a person-centred approach to meeting the health and social care needs of individuals and communities.