Driving Excellence in Patient Care Across Scotland - Our blog

As we mark Clinical Audit Awareness Week, Stuart Baird, Scottish National Audits Programme (SNAP) Service Manager, shines a spotlight on the vital work SNAP has and its role in shaping a safer, more effective, and person-centred healthcare system in Scotland.

At the heart of clinical governance across all Scottish health boards, SNAP is a cornerstone of quality improvement. Our vision is clear: to provide an internationally recognised health intelligence service that, through collaboration and clinical audit, promotes the highest standards of care for every patient in Scotland.

Why Clinical Audit Matters

Clinical audit is more than just data collection—it’s about using robust, accurate information to drive real change. At Public Health Scotland (PHS), we use this data to measure performance against agreed clinical standards and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). When care falls short of these benchmarks, we work collaboratively with health boards to ensure improvements. When care exceeds expectations, we celebrate and share these areas of best practice nationally.

SNAP plays a central role in this process, working closely with NHS boards to ensure that data is not only collected but also translated into meaningful improvements. With the patient at the centre of everything we do, our goal is to support a world-class public health system—one where people live longer, healthier lives, whether at home or in care settings close to their communities.

Turning Data into Action

One of the strengths of SNAP lies in its governance process. In the past year alone, we’ve reported on 68 positive outliers—services that are excelling—and 51 negative outliers—areas where improvement is needed. NHS boards are asked to respond with action plans, ensuring that variation in care is addressed, and that best practices are shared and scaled.

This approach is already driving change. For example, the programme is expanding to include new audits such as the Scottish Fracture Liaison Service Audit, the Scottish Robotic Assisted Surgery Audit and the Scottish Pelvic Floor Registry and Audit Programme.

Addressing Gaps and Inequalities

Scotland is taking steps to address areas where services have not developed and adapted as rapidly as others, such as fracture liaison data, which have been collected in the rest of the UK since 2021. This means Scottish patients with fragility fractures will benefit from the same level of oversight and quality assurance.

Looking Ahead: Innovation and Integration

The future of SNAP is one of integration and innovation. We are working toward the ability to describe multi-morbidities and population-level factors across audits. This will allow us to better understand the broader context of patient care and tackle inequalities more effectively.

The National Strategic Framework for Intracavity Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) in Scotland is another exciting development. It outlines ambitions to safely expand the use of RAS across multiple specialties, improving both access and outcomes for patients.

A Collective Effort

None of this progress would be possible without the dedication and resilience of our colleagues across NHS boards in Scotland. Their commitment to continuous improvement and patient-centred care is the driving force behind SNAP’s success.

As we celebrate Clinical Audit Awareness Week, we want to thank every clinician, analyst, and healthcare professional involved in this work. Together, we are building a healthcare system that not only meets expectations but strives to exceed them - ensuring that every patient in Scotland receives the high-quality care they deserve.