PurposeThe purpose of this research is to analyse whether Six Sigma business strategy can be used to improve the financial and operational performance of the NHS. The paper will also look at some of the major challenges and barriers in the implementation of this powerful process improvement strategy within the healthcare sector.Design/methodology/approachThis paper discusses whether Six Sigma DMAIC methodology can be a useful and disciplined approach to tackle process‐ and quality‐related problems in the NHS.FindingsThe paper presents some key findings from other researchers in the field, followed by some comments on whether Six Sigma is a useful approach to be considered by the NHS for cost reduction and defect reduction strategies.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates the point that Six Sigma is not confined just to manufacturing industry, rather it is equally applicable to service industry, especially the healthcare and financial sectors. The application of Six Sigma in the UK health sector is relatively new and the purpose of the paper is to increase the awareness of this powerful business strategy in healthcare discipline.

As in the world‐wide context in recent years Irish health care has undergone much change, which has led purchasers and consumers alike to call for a more efficient and effective service. Many differing approaches are being utilised in an effort to become more responsive; however, only limited results have been shown. Thus, the search for excellence is both compelling and inevitable within the sector. Here one seeks to discern the elements that offer health‐care institutions the chance to excel from an organisational perspective in their quest to become more responsive and patient‐focused. Also provides details of some forthcoming research aimed at exploring the issues and outcomes of using the EFQM excellence model to support the search for excellence in Irish health care. A follow‐up article with the findings will be published in a later issue of this journal.

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The effective management of health services and the delivery of quality systems in Irish health-care institutions have increased in significance in recent years. Consumers (patients) are expecting more of health-care providers and are demanding higher standards of care and service. Simultaneously, those paying for health services have become more concerned about rising health costs and possible inefficiencies. As a result there is widespread interest in understanding what makes for an effective health service and in developing better practices to improve existing approaches to health-care management and delivery. Reviews developments in quality-service management in the Irish health-care sector and focuses attention on the need for the development of a model for quality implementation in health-care institutions.

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