Measuring how well the NHS looks after its own staff: methodology of the first national clinical audits of occupational health services in the NHS.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Little is known about the quality of occupational health care provided to National Health Service (NHS) staff. We designed the first national clinical audits of occupational health care in England. We chose to audit depression and back pain as health care workers have high levels of both conditions compared with other employment sectors.

Do self-reported 'integrated' continence services provide high-quality continence care?

Introduction: systematic collection of clinical outcome data remains the most difficult task in the measurement of clinical effectiveness. However, the examination of the relationship between organisational and clinical process of care may provide a surrogate measure of quality in care.

Methods: data from the 2006 National Audit of Continence Care for Older People were used to examine whether there was an association between organisational structure and standard of continence care for older people.

National audit of continence care for older people: management of urinary incontinence.

Introduction: the Department of Health report 'Good practice in continence services' highlights the need for proper assessment and management of urinary incontinence. The National Service Framework for Older People required service providers to establish integrated continence services by April 2004. A national audit was conducted to assess the quality of continence care for older people and whether these requirements have been met.

National audit of continence care for older people: management of faecal incontinence.

Introduction: Faecal incontinence in older people is associated with considerable morbidity but is amenable to successful management. Quality standards in this area were previously subject to a pilot audit in primary, secondary care and care homes to allow providers to compare the care delivered by their service to others and to monitor the development of integrated continence services as set out in the National Service Framework for Older People. This study reports the results of the national audit.