The NHS England Quality Accounts List is published annually and identifies the national audits, clinical outcome review programmes, and quality improvement projects that trusts should prioritise for participation during the forthcoming financial year.
Trusts are required to report activity within their Quality Account, published annually on their website. NHS England information about Quality Accounts can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/quality-accounts/about-quality-accounts/
Participation Requirements
The NHS Standard Contract (SC26: Clinical Networks, National Audit Programmes and Approved Research Studies) requires providers to participate in NCAPOP programmes, other national clinical audits or outcome review programmes managed or commissioned by HQIP, and programmes included in the NHS England Quality Accounts List.
HQIP’s Role
HQIP manages the annual self-assessment scoping survey on behalf of NHS England. Only NCAPOP programmes are commissioned and quality assured by HQIP. For non-NCAPOP programmes, governance, quality assurance and compliance remain the responsibility of the programme owner.
Annual Scoping Survey
Each year HQIP undertakes a scoping survey exercise, on behalf of NHS England, to collect and review information relating to national clinical audits and other national clinical quality improvement projects that are collecting data during the forthcoming financial year. The information sourced from the self-assessment survey informs the development of the NHS England Quality Accounts List.
The 2027-28 scoping survey is currently open for submissions: NHS England Quality Accounts List 2027-28 – Scoping survey
The deadline for 2027-28 scoping survey submissions is: Tuesday 13 October 2026.
Criteria for inclusion
The scoping survey questions collect information to assess whether projects achieve at least 70% national coverage, collect patient-level data, publish provider-level comparisons, assess care against recognised standards, publish quality improvement resources, minimise burden on providers, publish timely results and operate a statistically validated outlier process.
Assessing the Results of the Scoping Survey
The information collected by the scoping survey informs the development of the NHS England Quality Accounts List. NHSE reviews all submitted information and determines which projects are to be included on the Quality Accounts List for the forthcoming financial year.
NHS Wales
Health boards and trusts in Wales are required to fully participate in all audits and outcome reviews listed in the annual ‘National clinical audit and outcome review annual plan’:
Good Practice Guide
HQIP have worked in collaboration with the Clinical Audit Team at Oxford University Hospitals NHS FT to produce an infographic resource to illustrate good practice in communicating with healthcare providers. This help guide is intended for project providers to use when asking hospitals, trusts and health boards to contribute data or information.
HQIP Infographic Guide: Communicating with Healthcare Providers (published December 2025)
NHSE Statement
‘Clinical audits and registries are great tools for enhancing understanding of care and delivering on quality improvements. However, this is not without a cost, and NHS England is aware of the increasing data and information ask of providers arising from Quality Accounts requirements. NHS England continues to work to find a sustainable solution to manage the burden and to support these important clinical areas of work.’
