National Audit for Care at the End of Life (NACEL) contract has been awarded to the NHS Benchmarking Network

Published: 26 Sep 2017

The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP ) is pleased to announce the National Audit for Care at the End of Life (NACEL) contract has been awarded to the NHS Benchmarking Network.

The three-year audit is commissioned by HQIP as part of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP), focusing on the quality and outcomes of care experienced by those in their last admission in acute, community and mental health hospitals throughout England and Wales. Outputs from this project will be of interest to those who receive, deliver and commission care, so will have a far-reaching audiencThe Network has a track record of delivering national audits, with the successful National Audit of Intermediate Care, being delivered for the last five years. Claire Holditch, Network Director, confirmed, “Our focus at the Network is delivering user-friendly outputs to help participants improve the quality of services for patients and carers. We are delighted to have this opportunity to bring our tried and tested benchmarking and improvement methodologies to the NACEL”.

The scope of the NACEL will now include the following elements: 

  •  A case note review of inpatients in hospital in the last few days and hours of life.
  •  An organisational level audit covering service models, activity, workforce, finance quality and outcomes
  •  The development and administration of an innovative Carer Reported Experience Measure
  • The development and administration of a Staff Reported Measure, and
  •  Topics for periodic, time-limited ‘spotlight’ audits

The NACEL will be an independent piece of work, but will also build on previous audits, with services being assessed against the Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People’s Five Priorities of Care, CQC domains and NICE national guidance and quality standards. Both carer and staff views will be included in the audit for the first time.

Professor Bee Wee, National Clinical Director for End of Life Care said, “I am delighted to be working with the NHS Benchmarking Network (NHSBN) on delivering this important National Clinical Audit which will shine a light on the care that dying people receive in acute, community and mental health hospitals. We need to work hard to constantly improve the experience of people at the end of their lives, as well as those who matter the most to them. I would strongly encourage all trusts to participate.”

The Network will work closely with professional bodies, clinicians and other stakeholders to develop the content and methodology for the audit. Claire Holditch commented, “We are particularly proud of our relationship with The Patients’ Association, who will be a key partner in this work. The Patients’ Association will ensure that patient and carer views are embedded in the NACEL.”

Over the next few months, The Network team will be establishing the governance structure for the NACEL and consulting widely with stakeholder on the scope of the audit. The first iteration of the audit will take place in 2018.
You can find out more about the National Audit for Care at the End of Life by contacting the Project Coordinator, Jessica Walsh ([email protected]t or 0161 266 2313). More information to follow .