Paediatrics clinical quality indicators

The clinical quality indicators for paediatrics are:

 

Asthma in children

This is the clinical quality indicator for the proportion of paediatric in-patients given a personalised written asthma plan for self-management of their asthma.

Rationale

Acute worsening of asthma is a common preventable paediatric hospital admissions. Evidence has shown that children's asthma can change from time to time and personalised written plans empower patients to manage their own asthma, and may reduce the frequency of hospital admissions.

Our objectives

We are aiming for more than 90% of children admitted with asthma to have a personalised written management plan upon discharge.

Current performance

 

Children managed by local mental health services

This is the clinical quality indicator for the proportion of children with eating disorders managed without the need for referral to tier four services.

Rationale

Our specialist out-patient service has provision for in-patient care. We aim to care for our patients on an out-patient basis and to avoid referrals to tertiary in-patient units where possible.

There is a growing evidence that in-patient care is more costly and the patient experience less positive.

Our objectives

We aim to treat 95% or more patients without the need for a referral to external tier four services.

Current performance

Awaiting information.

 

Diabetes in children

This is the clinical quality indicator for HbA1c in diabetic children. It is calculated by using the median HbA1c blood test results for all children and young people with diabetes.

Rationale

HbA1c is a measure of diabetes control. Good diabetes control can prevent the onset of diabetes-related complications.

Our objectives

We aim to reduce our median HbA1c levels to 68mmol/mol  The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends a median HbA1c of 58mmol/mol or less.  

We aim to exceed this and reduce our median HbA1c levels to 68mmol/mol.

Current performance

The median HbA1c of our patients is:

66.1mmol/mol at Royal Free Hospital

73mmol/mol at Barnet Hospital

71mmol/mol Chase Farm Hospital.

We have therefore achieved our target of 68 mmol/mol or better at Royal Free Hospital but not yet at Barnet nor Chase Farm.

An HbA1c of 69 mmol/mol is the average figure achieved by trusts across England & Wales.

30% of trusts in England & Wales achieved the target of 68mmol/mol or better, and 18.4% achived under 58mmol/mol.

Source: National Paediatric Diabetes Audit 2012-13 (March 2015).