Audits

As primary care continues to develop and experience great change, it is as important as ever that we try to “step back” and assess if we are achieving our aims.  Audit is a vital tool in this process. 

A brief outline of what we have audited is presented below; more details are available in the “Audit Files” stored in the Library. 

We are still working at formalising an “Audit Calendar” – as we recognise that we are not often reviewing some of the key areas on a regular basis.  With the proposed new GP Contract being linked to quality issues – including NSFs – the accurate recording of such relevant data will be vital.

 1.      Prescribing Reviews 

Our PACT data inform us that as a Practice, we are no longer “low prescribers”.  There are likely to be several factors contributing to this, but we need to acknowledge that a significant factor is variability between partners. This is likely to be discussed at appraisal meetings.

We have specifically looked at:        

¨       PPIs

¨       Depot injections for Ca prostate

¨       Atypical oral neuroleptics

 (all of these are heavily influenced by secondary care).

 2.      Formal Audits

 We have looked at: 

¨       Lithium monitoring

¨       Infection control

¨       Minor Illness Clinic 

We also continue to produce information for EQUIP.  This enables us to compare aspects of morbidity and performance with practices across North Essex. 

Information recorded has included: 

¨       Hypertension

¨       Stroke prevention

¨       Diabetes

¨       Asthma

¨       CPA for mental illness

 We have also worked hard on developing our CHD Register.

 3.      Significant Event Audits

 Multi-disciplinary critical event audit meetings have been held every 3 months. 

We have improved the attendance by having the meetings at the start of a working day and delaying the start of surgery on that day.

 At these meetings we discuss “important events”.  In a critical but non-judgemental way, we hope to improve our care and promote preventative measures.

 Subjects discussed have included: 

¨       Overdose of liquid nitrogen

¨       Medication errors

¨       Rare diagnoses

¨       Communication problems

¨       Interface with secondary care

¨       Reception problems

¨       Child protection

¨       Use of Orlistat

DR DAVID SMALLEY