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<p>The Health Care Quality Improvement Partnership through the National Clinical Audit
and Patient Outcomes Programme runs audits funded by NHS England for a range of clinical
areas. Central funding is usually time limited and the National Ophthalmology Database
Audit (NODA) was no exception. It should be noted less than 50% of ophthalmologist
submitted their data.</p><p> </p><p>This Audit was commissioned for an initial three
years of funding. This was then extended by two further years in 2017. Central funding
is time limited to ensure a range of areas benefit over time. However, this does not
mean an audit which is valued by a sector has to cease. Many audits move from central
to other funding arrangements led by the sector.</p><p> </p><p>An audit provides an
additional focus on improvement that those taking part benefit from, but all ophthalmology
services continue to be subject to the same general standards whether or not they
are taking part in the Audit programme. The intention of an audit is to look in a
focussed way at outcomes and for the NODA this covered cataract surgery. The findings
from the audit are available to surgeons and patients with the aim of driving continuous
improvement. Participation in an audit, however, is not compulsory for trusts or individual
surgeons and participation rates vary. Standards of individual clinical care continue
to be the responsibility of the surgeon involved and, if appropriate, the relevant
professional body.</p><p> </p>
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