The purpose of the Clinical Standards Department of the Royal College of Physicians is to improve patient care and healthcare provision by setting clinical standards and monitoring their use. We have expertise in the development of evidence-based guidelines and the organisation and reporting of multicentre comparative performance data. The department has three core strategic objectives: to define standards around the clinical work of physicians; to measure and evaluate the implemenation of standards and its impact on patient care; and to effectively implement these standards. Our programme involves the relevant specialist societies, patient groups and national bodies including the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Healthcare Commission and the Health Foundation