The role of clinical audit in risk reduction Available to Purchase

Recent criticism of some aspects of current practice within the NHS has placed the role of clinical audit increasingly under the spotlight. In a recent publication, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence states that “the time has come for everyone in the NHS to take clinical audit very seriously”. This article considers the intimate link between clinical audit and clinical governance, a philosophy that has not yet been universally adopted. It describes the key principles of risk management within the context of clinical audit, and examines the audit burden imposed on primary and secondary care by assessors, National Service Frameworks and regulatory bodies. It discusses the challenges risk managers face in adopting a systematic review of care that seeks to avoid harm to patients, while improving outcomes and care standards.