HSE Press Release: 12 April 2022
HSE welcomes new National Centre for Clinical Audit (NCCA)
Today, (Tuesday, 12 April 2022) the HSE welcomes the establishment of the National Centre for Clinical Audit (NCCA). This important step confirms the HSE’s commitment to developing clinical audit as an essential quality and patient safety tool in Ireland, promoting improved patient outcomes.
The NCCA was formed following on from the publication of the HSE National Review of Clinical Audit Report in 2019 and will be primarily responsible for implementing the report’s recommendations under five key pillars:
- National Governance for Clinical Audit;
- Local Governance for Clinical Audit;
- Education and Training for Clinical Audit;
- Education and Training Resources for Clinical Audit;
- Legislative Changes affecting Clinical Audit.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, said:
“I am very pleased to welcome the establishment of the HSE National Centre for Clinical Audit, which has been supported by seed funding from the Sláintecare Reform Programme. This centre provides for a co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to clinical audit which is an important part of a quality improvement cycle and integral to the patient safety agenda. We look forward to working with the HSE to ensure the benefits of clinical audit are maximised across the patient journey”.
Dr. Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer (CCO), HSE, who commissioned the HSE National Review of Clinical Audit and chairs the HSE National Steering Group for Clinical Audit, welcomed the development:
“This will ensure an integrated approach to clinical audit. The HSE NCCA will implement the recommendations* of the National Review of Clinical Audit Report 2019 which will strengthen the development of an end-to-end process for clinical audit and meet the needs of clinical audit service providers and multi-disciplinary stakeholders.”
Dr. Henry also acknowledged the considerable work of the clinical audit service providers and welcomed the development of strengthened governance structures and processes to oversee and support national and local clinical audit activity.
Dr. Orla Healy, National Clinical Director, Quality and Patient Safety said:
“The work of the HSE National Steering Group for Clinical Audit is well under way with multidisciplinary representation, including patient representatives. The steering group will provide a co-ordinated strategic approach for clinical audit activity and give central oversight of national clinical audit service providers. Clinical audit is an integral component of safety in all modern healthcare systems and the programme will ensure delivery of a standardised approach.”
The 2019 national review identified inconsistencies in the language used across the Irish healthcare system in the area of clinical audit. For this reason, a significant amount of work was carried out to produce a glossary of agreed terms, including a standard definition of ‘clinical audit’ to be adopted across all healthcare services.
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/nqpsd/ncca/nomenclature-a-glossary-of-terms-for-clinical-audit.pdf
The NCCA Training and Education programme for Clinical Audit will be available in early Q2.2022, and will cover a range of virtual and in person training options including “Fundamentals in Clinical Audit” eLearning programme, Foundation in Clinical Audit, Advanced Clinical Audit and Train the Trainer. Further information and booking details will be issued in due course.
For further information on the National Centre for Clinical Audit (NCCA), please see https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/nqpsd/ncca/
Last updated on: 12 / 04 / 2022
