Press release
Minister for Health publishes the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee's National Clinic Audit No.2 Perinatal Mortality
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, today welcomed the publication of a new National Clinical Effectiveness Audit which looks at obstetric and neonatal care in relation to perinatal mortality. It is the second audit to be quality assured by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) and becomes No. 2 in the NCEC suite of National Clinical Audits.
The National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre collaborates with Irish maternity services to translate clinical audit data and epidemiological evidence into improved maternity care for families in Ireland. The audit improves understanding of perinatal mortality and identifies areas of good practice, and areas for improvement in obstetric and neonatal care.
The National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre aligns its audit governance structures to the National Office of Clinical Audit and since 2009 the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary Perinatal Mortality National Clinical Audit Governance Committee, has conducted a National Clinical Audit of Perinatal Mortality annually.
It became a national audit in 2011 and published its last report in October 2021, covering 2018/2019 data. Today that audit becomes the second audit to be quality assured by the NCEC.
The Minister welcomed the audit launch, as part of the National Office of Clinical Audit’s Annual Conference:
“I am pleased to endorse the second National Clinical Effectiveness Committee National Clinical Audit. This audit looks at obstetric and neonatal care in relation to perinatal mortality. It is implemented across the health service to help support continuous improvement of services. Robust audit data advances progress and understanding for providing safe, quality care for the women and babies who use the obstetric and neonatal services.”
The Minister congratulated the Audit Chair, the Audit Governance Committee and all who worked to bring this audit to final publication today so that it is available for healthcare professionals delivering patient care.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer said:
“I strongly support this latest National Clinical Audit, which is critical in ensuring evidence-based practice and the provision of safe, high quality obstetric and neonatal patient care. The development of this audit by a multi-disciplinary Audit Governance Committee, led by Professor Richard Greene with the support of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre and the National Office of Clinical Audit, and quality assured by the NCEC reflects international best practice. This comprehensive, high-quality evidence based clinical audit supports healthcare professionals caring for patients in this area.”
Ms Rachel Kenna, Chief Nursing Officer said:
“Perinatal mortality is an important measurement of the outcome of obstetric and neonatal care. The publication of this second NCEC quality assured National Clinical Audit is welcomed to further support best practice care. I would like to acknowledge the work of all involved to make this audit available to the midwives and doctors working in maternity units, caring directly for women and their babies on a day-to-day basis.”
Professor Richard Greene, Chair of the Perinatal Mortality National Clinical Audit Governance Committee and Director National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, said:
“We are delighted that the perinatal mortality audit has successfully passed the rigorous NCEC methodological processes and that the audit was recommended by the NCEC for onward endorsement as an NCEC National Clinical Audit by the Minister for Health. We thank the healthcare professionals and the Perinatal Mortality National Clinical Audit Governance Committee for their continued support and collaboration with the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre.”
The NCEC provides leadership for clinical effectiveness in Ireland through prioritisation and quality assurance of National Clinical Audits and National Clinical Guidelines. To date, one other NCEC National Clinical Audit on Major Trauma has been endorsed. Extending, updating, and implementing the suite of NCEC audits remains a priority of national health policy.
Further information about the NCEC and National Clinical Audits is available at: gov.ie - Clinical Effectiveness
Clinical effectiveness is a key component of patient safety. The integration of best evidence in service provision, through clinical effectiveness processes, promotes healthcare that is up to date, effective and consistent. Clinical effectiveness processes include guidelines, audit and practice guidance.
1. Provide strategic leadership for the national clinical effectiveness agenda.
2. Contribute to national patient safety and quality improvement agendas.
3. Publish standards for clinical practice guidance.
4. Publish guidance for National Clinical Guidelines and National Clinical Audit.
5. Prioritise and quality assure National Clinical Guidelines and National Clinical Audit.
6. Commission National Clinical Guidelines and National Clinical Audit.
7. Align National Clinical Guidelines and National Clinical Audit with implementation levers.
8. Report periodically on the implementation and impact of National Clinical Guidelines and the performance of National Clinical Audit.
9. Establish sub-committees for NCEC work-streams.
10. Publish an Annual Report.
Further information about the NCEC and National Clinical Guidelines is available at: gov.ie - Clinical Effectiveness and gov.ie - Perinatal mortality