The Clinical Audit Department works behind the scenes to help ensure the quality of healthcare in our hospitals.

We do this by reviewing the quality of clinical care against both local and national standards. We also seek to improve patient care by participation in national patient surveys, and by carrying out local patient surveys. We have offices at both sites in the Trust.

As a patient you are unlikely to come into direct contact with the team, although you may be asked to complete surveys or questionnaires that we have helped to plan and develop.

You can also get involved in deciding the issues that should be the focus of clinical audit. We are always keen for patients to offer their comments and ideas on areas suitable for audit. If you have any suggestions for topics you think we should be auditing, or have any comments on patient care, or would like to be invited to attend a patient focus group, please ring the team to let us know.

The information that we hold about you in your patient case notes may also be reviewed as part of the clinical audit process. This is vital in helping us to review and improve patient care. All data is anonymised, and patient names or other identifying details are not used in audit reports.

If you do not wish for your information to be used for Clinical Audit purposes, please contact the Clinical Audit Manager in writing, Sally Allen, Head of Clinical Audit, SECC, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ, or by e-mail: sally.allen5@nhs.net