The CASC and HQQ Clinical Audit Survey 2026

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The Clinical Audit Support Centre and Healthcare Quality Quest have joined forces to carry out this survey. Both organisations feel that now is a pivotal time for clinical audit and the purpose of this survey is to hear from clinical audit professionals that play a key role in the delivery of local and national projects. We have tried to focus on key questions that will provide us with invaluable data to share back with you and national organisations. Please help us with this initiative and complete the survey by 18 June 2026. Initial results will be shared at Clinical Auditorium on 24 June. Thank you in advance.

Section 1: About you

How would you classify yourself?

Clinical Audit professional

QI professional with a responsibility for clinical audit

Clinical Governance professional with a responsibility for clinical audit

Clinician with an interest in/responsibility for clinical audit

Other (please specify):

This is required

How long have you worked in clinical audit?

Less than 6 years

6-10 years

11 to 15 years

16 years or more

What sector do you work in?

Acute

Ambulance

Community

Mental Health

Partnership (Community and Mental Health)

Primary Care

Other (please specify):

This is required

Section 2: Delivery of local clinical audit

Thinking about the last 12 months, what response best describes staffing changes to your organisation’s clinical audit team?

The team has grown in size

The team has stayed the same in size

The team has shrunk in size

N/A: I do not know or cannot answer

What best describes the current relationship between your organisation’s quality improvement team and the clinical audit team?

The QI and clinical audit functions sit within the same team

The relationship is very strong

The relationship is strong

The relationship is mediocre

The relationship is weak

The relationship is very weak

N/A: I do not know or cannot answer

What best describes the current relationship between your organisation’s patient safety / risk team and the clinical audit team?

The relationship is very strong

The relationship is strong

The relationship is mediocre

The relationship is weak

The relationship is very weak

N/A: I do not know or cannot answer

Provide three words or phrases to describe how you believe LOCAL clinical audit is perceived by colleagues in the organisation that you work for:

Who do you consider to be the people (please state job titles or departments) that have championed the value and importance of LOCAL clinical audit within your organisation over the last 12 months:

Approximately what percentage of your time do you spend working on LOCAL clinical audits with clinical teams in your organisation? (Please use the sliding scale below)

100

Section 3: Delivery of National Clinical Audit

Provide three words or phrases to describe how you believe NATIONAL clinical audit is perceived by colleagues in the organisation that you work for:

Thinking about the burden of national clinical audit on your organisation, what answer best represents what has happened since COVID:

The burden has increased significantly

The burden has increased a little

There has been no real change

The burden has reduced a little

The burden has reduced significantly

N/A: I do not know or cannot answer

Please name at least one national clinical audit that your organisation has used and briefly describe how it has significantly improved the care and safety of patients in the organisation that you work for:

Please name at least one national clinical audit that your organisation has used and briefly describe problems you have experienced and/or any concerns you would like to raise:

Please share brief thoughts on how you believe national clinical audits could be improved:

Approximately what percentage of your time do you spend working on NATIONAL clinical audits? (Please use the sliding scale below)

100

Section 4: National focus on Clinical Audit

Who do you consider to be the people and organisations that sit outside your organisation who have championed the value and importance of LOCAL clinical audit over the last 12 months?

Was NHS England’s 'Clinical Audit and Registries: A Best Practice Guide' published in 2026 what you expected?

Yes

Not sure

Not applicable e.g. I have not read the guide

Please describe how you consider NHS England's 'Clinical Audit and Registries: A Best Practice Guide' will be useful to you:

Section 5: Support for Clinical Audit Professionals

What steps could your employer take to enhance the effectiveness and value of the clinical audit function?

Do you feel that local clinical audit professionals are appropriately supported by national organisations? (e.g. NHS England, NQICAN, National Audit Suppliers, HQIP etc)

Yes

Not sure

Not applicable (e.g. I'm not a local clinical audit professional)

What could be done nationally to help clinical audit professionals to thrive?

In your opinion, which are more effective at improving patient care?

Local Clinical Audits

National Clinical Audits

Are you more or less worried about your job security, than 12 months ago?

More worried

No change

Less worried

Huge thanks for completing this survey. Your response is anonymous and feedback will be shared by CASC and HQQ. We are indebted to you for taking time to share your thoughts. Best wishes, Stephen, Tracy, Nancy and Liz.

PS. If you are happy to share your email, allowing us to message you about interesting comments you have made and or to share an electronic copy of the results with you at the earliest opportunity, please do so below. Note, we do not accept Gmail account emails.

How would you classify yourself?

How long have you worked in clinical audit?

What sector do you work in?

Thinking about the last 12 months, what response best describes staffing changes to your organisation’s clinical audit team?

What best describes the current relationship between your organisation’s quality improvement team and the clinical audit team?

What best describes the current relationship between your organisation’s patient safety / risk team and the clinical audit team?

Provide three words or phrases to describe how you believe LOCAL clinical audit is perceived by colleagues in the organisation that you work for:

Who do you consider to be the people (please state job titles or departments) that have championed the value and importance of LOCAL clinical audit within your organisation over the last 12 months:

Approximately what percentage of your time do you spend working on LOCAL clinical audits with clinical teams in your organisation? (Please use the sliding scale below)

Provide three words or phrases to describe how you believe NATIONAL clinical audit is perceived by colleagues in the organisation that you work for:

Thinking about the burden of national clinical audit on your organisation, what answer best represents what has happened since COVID:

Please name at least one national clinical audit that your organisation has used and briefly describe how it has significantly improved the care and safety of patients in the organisation that you work for:

Please name at least one national clinical audit that your organisation has used and briefly describe problems you have experienced and/or any concerns you would like to raise:

Please share brief thoughts on how you believe national clinical audits could be improved:

Approximately what percentage of your time do you spend working on NATIONAL clinical audits? (Please use the sliding scale below)

Who do you consider to be the people and organisations that sit outside your organisation who have championed the value and importance of LOCAL clinical audit over the last 12 months?

Was NHS England’s 'Clinical Audit and Registries: A Best Practice Guide' published in 2026 what you expected?

Please describe how you consider NHS England's 'Clinical Audit and Registries: A Best Practice Guide' will be useful to you:

What steps could your employer take to enhance the effectiveness and value of the clinical audit function?

Do you feel that local clinical audit professionals are appropriately supported by national organisations? (e.g. NHS England, NQICAN, National Audit Suppliers, HQIP etc)

What could be done nationally to help clinical audit professionals to thrive?

In your opinion, which are more effective at improving patient care?

Are you more or less worried about your job security, than 12 months ago?

Contact details (if you wish to share):