Clinical audit is vital to our health system to reassure patients and the public that the quality of care is monitored with a constant focus on improvement and that care is being provided to best practice standards. The report summarises the current barriers impacting clinical audit in Ireland. In addition, it provides guidance and recommendations to further develop clinical audit across the Irish Healthcare system.

Dr Brian Creedon, NOCA Clinical Director and Chair of the Working Group for the National Review of Clinical Audit commended the work of the Steering Committee and Working Group and noted

This reports provides a framework to ensure clinical audit can continue to protect patients by improving their health outcomes. Whilst clinical audit cannot make judgements about an individual’s care, it can be used to measure and improve the quality of care provided to the wider population. A health system with a culture of clinical audit provides assurance to the public, patients and clinicians on the quality of care provided. I wish to especially acknowledge our patient representatives who highlighted the importance of building a culture of clinical audit.

Critical to the development of this document was the involvement of Public and Patient Interest Representatives. Brian O’Mahony, Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society, sat on the Steering Committee and welcomes this report. He commented

I was happy to contribute to this vital work which should provide reassurance to the public that the critical components of health care will be continuously measured and improved. My organisation has been involved in audit and improvement of services for people with haemophilia for the past 13 years and this has helped foster a culture of learning and excellence in care.

​The full document can be read here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/national-review-of-clinical-audit-report-2019.pdf