NHS Yorkshire and the Humber is to set up a 'quality foundation', which it claims will go one step further than the regional quality observatories recommended by Lord Darzi.

The strategic health authority's chief executive, Margaret Edwards, said the quality foundation would bring together Yorkshire and the Humber's public health observatory, identify best evidence and produce data and a framework for measuring quality.

It will also carry out research and development for the whole of the region and disseminate information on improvement and innovation, she said.

Ms Edwards told the Commons health select committee: "We have great knowledge in the Yorkshire and the Humber region. "What we have not always been good at is making sure that goes into the business processes so that it gets into people's contracts."

Ms Edwards said she expected to advertise for staff soon.

Lord Darzi's next stage review called for each SHA to set up a quality observatory. Other SHAs said their plans for the observatories were in the early stages.

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