Clinical Audit & Review Cycles in NHS-Commissioned Services
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Clinical audit is not a paperwork exercise. It is a structured method for checking whether care meets agreed standards and for improving practice where gaps are identified.
Commissioners use audit evidence to assess whether providers understand their risks and actively work to improve quality.
This topic links closely with quality assurance and auditing and continuous improvement.
What clinical audit involves
In NHS-commissioned services, audit typically involves:
- Identifying a standard
- Measuring current practice
- Implementing improvement actions
- Re-auditing to confirm change
Without the full cycle, audit has limited value.
Selecting audit topics
Effective providers prioritise audits based on:
- Risk areas
- Incident trends
- Commissioner priorities
This ensures audit effort is focused where it matters most.
Involving staff in audit
Commissioners value audit processes that:
- Engage frontline staff
- Encourage reflection
- Support learning rather than blame
Staff engagement improves audit quality and impact.
Turning audit into action
Strong audit processes result in:
- Clear improvement plans
- Named responsibilities
- Timescales for review
Audit findings without action undermine assurance.
Re-audit and evidence of improvement
Commissioners look for evidence that:
- Actions were implemented
- Practice changed
- Outcomes improved
This demonstrates learning and accountability.
Audit as part of governance
Audit outcomes should feed into:
- Quality meetings
- Board reports
- Commissioner reviews
This shows that audit is embedded within governance systems.
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