Audit data central to NHS Information Strategy

22 November 2011

HQIP, as a major centre of expertise on information within the NHS, recently presented at an Information Seminar as part of the Francis Inquiry (into Mid-Staffordshire).  Latterly filmed as an interview, Chief Executive Robin Burgess stressed the following key tenets:

• clinical audit data, some of the richest data source of high quality information
• audit data and its central place to effective and integrated clinical governance
• audit data and its practice, proven to drive up quality of care for patients
• HQIP's experience of managing data flow and how this might inform broader thinking to support the Information Strategy in development by the Department of Health

Burgess, who recently published a HQIP position paper on Information, also submitted to the Future Forum.

The Information Seminar brought experts in the field together to look forward with suggestions to prevent a similar situation to that at Mid-Staffordshire from happening again.  The seminar reviewed the purpose of information in the NHS, why it is collected and how it is used to drive change and monitor improvements and failures.

The Francis Inquiry and Report published 18 recommendations after an investigation into the standards of care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.  You can find more on the Department of Health website here>>