Finalised Monitor FT status guide emphasises board engagement on clinical audit

The role of NHS boards - and their engagement with their clinical audit strategies - has been identified as a key part of ensuring Foundation Trust status for hospitals, according to the latest guidance from Monitor.

The independent regulator has released ‘Amendments to Applying for NHS Foundation Trust Status', an update to its original ‘Applying for NHS Foundation Trust Status: Guide for Applicants' publication.

The latest version includes specific updates to chapters 5 and 6 of the original guide, and is effective for all applicants with an authorisation decision made after 1 August 2010.

HQIP Chief Executive Officer Robin Burgess said that HQIP's ‘Clinical Audit: A Simple Guide For NHS Boards and Partners', published in April this year, was the ideal support tool to help board members and audit leads work together effectively on clinical audit.

"In the light of extensive consultation, the guidance has been redrafted, with the role of the Board in using Clinical Audit clearly highlighted," Burgess said.  "HQIP's guidance, when used by boards, will enable this requirement to be fulfilled."

Links:

• Amendments to Applying for NHS Foundation Trust Status
• Applying for NHS Foundation Trust Status; Guide for Applicants
• Clinical Audit: A Simple Guide For NHS Boards and Partners