THE NATIONAL HEART FAILURE AUDIT
Launched on 23 July 2007, the National Heart Failure Audit aims to provide national comparative data to help clinicians and managers improve the quality and outcomes of their services. Findings can be used to assess achievement against National Service Framework goals and milestones and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for heart failure on an ongoing basis. The information is used in the NHS to develop improved strategies to minimise hospitalisations for heart failure. It can also be used to inform patients about the quality of heart failure care and to support patient choice.
The latest report is available at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/nicor/audits/heartfailure/additionalfiles/pdfs/annualreports/annual11.pdf. Please also see the press release for this report.
Information about the audit, including reports and a list of participating sites, can be accessed via the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) website: www.ucl.ac.uk/nicor/audits/heartfailure.
Please also see Cleland John G F et al. The national heart failure audit for England and Wales 2008-2009. Heart 2011; 97: 876-886 and Hardman S M C. What can we learn from the national heart failure audit? Heart 2011; 97: 865-866.