Clinical audit is a method that healthcare professionals use to look at and improve patient care. They compare how patients are treated, and the outcomes of the care they receive, against set standards and guidelines.
The audits in NATCAN use information on the care received by patients diagnosed with cancer in hospitals across England and Wales. They examine this data in order to make valid comparisons, and identify improvements where they are needed. The audits which have already been delivered have helped provide a wider understanding of cancer treatments, and created better results for patients. They have also promoted improvement initiatives within NHS cancer services, and identified areas of best practice.