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Background: Substantial resources are invested by Health Departments worldwide in introducing National Clinical Audits (NCAs). Yet, there is variable evidence on the NCAs' effectiveness and little is known on factors underlying the successful use of NCAs to improve local practice. This study will focus on a single NCA (the National Audit of Inpatient Falls -NAIF 2017) to explore: (i) participants' perspectives on the NCA reports, local feedback characteristics and actions undertaken following the feedback underpinning the effective use of the NCA feedback to improve local practice; (ii) reported changes in local practice following the NCA feedback in England and Wales. Methods: Front-line staff perspectives were gathered through interviews. An inductive qualitative approach was used. Eighteen participants were purposefully sampled from 7 of the 85 participating hospitals in England and Wales. Analysis was guided by constant comparative techniques. Results: Regarding the NAIF annual report, interviewees valued performance benchmarking with other hospitals, the use of visual representations and the inclusion of case studies and recommendations. Participants stated that feedback should target front-line healthcare professionals, be straightforward and focused, and be delivered through an encouraging and honest discussion. Interviewees highlighted the value of using other relevant data sources alongside NAIF feedback and the importance of continuous data monitoring. Participants reported that engagement of front-line staff in the NAIF and following improvement activities was critical. Leadership, ownership, management support and communication at different organisational levels were perceived as enablers, while staffing level and turnover, and poor quality improvement (QI) skills, were perceived as barriers to improvement. Reported changes in practice included increased awareness and attention to patient safety issues and greater involvement of patients and staff in falls prevention activities. Conclusions: There is scope to improve the use of NCAs by front-line staff. NCAs should not be seen as isolated interventions but should be fully embedded and integrated into the QI strategic and operational plans of NHS trusts. The use of NCAs could be optimised, but knowledge of them is poor and distributed unevenly across different disciplines. More research is needed to provide guidance on key elements to consider throughout the whole improvement process at different organisational levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the relative effectiveness of different forms of communicating change to a dispersed and part-time workforce in home care service in London, England. Changes made in the public sector and home care services; Communication methods and forms; Demonstration that home care workers seek to be informed about key issues affecting the service.

The article explains the concept of an information "bus bar" by describing the purpose of and processes at the Regional Information Centre of Midlands Region's Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in England. The annual overhaul plan for taking generating plants offline for maintenance takes complex planning due to the seasonal demands for the utility and efforts to control production costs. Generating plants send data to the Information Centre, which integrates the information and treats it as a neutral commodity to be shared across management, and sends a report to the CEGB, which sends instructions back to the generating plants. A flow chart of the reporting system includes the operational process at the Information Centre.

The article presents a study which aimed to compare the management practices in the U.S. and England. The study considered the problem on whether differing reactions to group decision leaders type are produced by cultural differences. Comparison of group decisions' outcomes between the groups in England and the U.S. was carried out. Results suggested that the chance provided by group decision in participating in the decision making that affect lives is appealing to all people, despite of the cultural differences.

The article focuses on Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Peter Carter's view that nurse leaders could adapt aspects of goose-style teamwork in London, England. Carter perceives that nurse innovators should look to the animal world for inspiration in leading their teams. He explains that geese rotate the leader in the flying group to lessen tiredness. He argues that communication is significant in ensuring effective teamwork and leadership.

The article reports on the vocational language schemes offered by City and Guilds of London Institute in England, which includes in French, German, Spanish and Italian. Designed for people working in foreign countries, the schemes can be applied to any vocational sector wherein aims to enable candidates to communicate effectively within a working environment. On the other hand, the scheme may help effectively remove barriers to trade and movement of staff between member states with the plan to introduce a single European market by the end of 1992

Information about various topics discussed during the meeting of the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) on June 7, 2007 at the Belgravia House in Horseferry Road in London, England is presented. It highlights the discussion of the forthcoming medicines legislation that will require the registration of practice premises. It also features the call for better communication between practices and clients to decrease complaints.