CAAW26 Strategic Impact award winners announced

22 Jun 2026

We are delighted to share that the winners of the Strategic Impact category of the Excellence in Clinical Audit Awards 2026, which are part of Clinical Audit Awareness Week, have been announced!

This award recognises clinical audits and evidence-informed improvement projects that use healthcare data to support the delivery of national or strategic priorities, leading to a sustainable healthcare service that ensures resources are used where they benefit patients most. Many congratulations to:

WINNER: Dr Aicha Bouraoui, on behalf of the Adolescent and Young Adult Rheumatology Team, University College London Hospitals

The Pathway to Equity Project (PEP) is an award-winning improvement initiative that uses a systems thinking approach to address hospital appointment non-attendance (DNA) among young people aged 16 to 24; an issue resulting in losses of millions of pounds. Using data and machine learning to identify key predictors of DNA, this project offers a scalable model for equitable, community-focused care – so offers an innovative, yet simple, way to support the Core20PLUS5 strategic aims.

JOINT RUNNER-UP: Improvement Networks Team, NHS Elect

Thrombolysis in Acute Stroke (TASC) is a national, data-driven improvement programme designed to improve the safe and timely delivery of thrombolysis for acute stroke patients. Quantitative data was complemented by qualitative evidence and a range of quality improvement initiatives, to demonstrate clear and sustained improvement (thrombolysis rates improved nationally from 10.7% to 14.9% for the first time in 10 years) – and so directly supports the NHS Long Term Plan’s ambition to improve outcomes for its six named conditions.

JOINT RUNNER-UP: Urology Prostate Cancer Pathway Team, Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This project (Service Redesign and Capacity Improvement Through Nurse Practitioner Role Expansion in the Prostate Biopsy Pathway) uses audit to address critical delays between clinic review and LATP biopsy, and improve outcomes for prostate cancer patients. The result was an increase in clinic capacity by 33.3% and biopsy capacity by 37.5% without requiring additional consultant sessions or theatre lists; maximising the use of limited resources and supporting both the National Cancer Plan and the 10 Year Health Plan.

Who are the other winners?

This award is one of five main, and two additional commendation, categories in this year’s Excellence in Clinical Audit Awards. The winners are announced at a series of daily online events from 22-26 June 2026, which are run alongside a series of themed webinars, aligned to the award categories.

Register NOW: Find out more about, and register for, HQIP’s free online events, to find out about all the winners of the Excellence in Clinical Audit Awards and hear more about the Clinical Audit Awareness Week topics:

Tuesday 23 June, 10.30-11.30am: Patient Involvement and Care Equity (morning webinar) REGISTER HERE
Tuesday 23 June, 12.15-1pm: Lunchtime Sharing Session – with Equity and Patient Involvement award announcement REGISTER HERE
Tuesday 23 June, 2-3pm: Patient Involvement and Care Equity: Maternity and Healthcare Inequalities (afternoon webinar) REGISTER HERE
Wednesday 24 June, 10am-12pm: Shaping the Future Together – featuring Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive, NHS England REGISTER HERE
Wednesday 24 June, 12.45-1.30pm: Lunchtime Sharing Session – with Innovation award announcement REGISTER HERE
Thursday 25 June, 10.30am-12pm: Patient Safety REGISTER HERE
Thursday 25 June, 12.45-1.30pm: Lunchtime Sharing Session – with Patient Safety award announcement REGISTER HERE
Friday 26 June, 10am-12pm: Data-Informed Improvement (morning webinar) REGISTER HERE
Friday 26 June, 1-3pm: Data-Informed Improvement (afternoon webinar) – with Evidence into Practice award announcement REGISTER HERE.

All award winners announced so far can be found here: Excellence in Clinical Audit Awards.

Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2026

A week-long national campaign that aims to improve and save lives by promoting and celebrating the critical role of clinical audit and data-driven healthcare improvement. Join in the fun by sharing online, using #CAAW26!

Find out more: Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2026