National Clinical Assessment Authority. Set up in April 2001, this national body provides a central point of contact for the NHS when concerns about a doctor's performance are raised. The authority will give advice to NHS hospitals and strategic health authorities to make sure the performance of doctors is checked and action taken to ensure doctors are practising safely. A report entitled Assuring the Quality of Medical Practice is available on the Internet giving details of the authority and other measures being taken to protect patients and support doctors.