<p>The implementation of clinical governance brought witl it a statutory duty for NHS trusts to ensure the level of clinical services they deliver to patients and clients is satisfactory, consistent and responsive (Swage 2000). The essence of clinical governance is that it provides an opportunity for clinicians to take the lead in delivering care, to demonstrate how it can be done effectively, to learn from each other, and share best practice in a structured way. One term used to incorporate these concepts and a component of the overarching clinical governance framework is ‘care pathways</p>