We are a local Trust. Which national audits do we have to participate in?

Participation in some audits is an expectation by the current regulatory body, the Care Quality Commission (formerly the Healthcare Commission), so a Trust which does not participate is unlikely to be assessed favourably. However it is up to a Trust which other audits it participates in. It is important that Trusts can demonstrate a process of prioritisation to decide on which national audits to participate in. Most national audits are crucial to the roll out of broader programmes of quality, eg for cancer and heart disease.

There are no audits in the national programme led by HQIP which do not have value or do not improve local healthcare. In relation to national audits not funded by HQIP, the decision to participate must be a local one, but the fact that they are not funded by HQIP need not reflect their importance. Many are crucial to high quality care in relation to the conditions they cover.

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