DAPB4117 Paediatric Audiology Dataset

To enable national status monitoring of providers of paediatric audiology services requiring reassessment and recall of patients. This data collection will give NHS England an understanding of the number of patients which need to be reviewed, reassessed and recalled and attributed levels of harm by provider. This will help strategic oversight and programme development to support required local improvements

The Newborn Hearing Screening programme reviewed the data of every newborn baby born in England (2018-2023) and identified some Trusts who had diagnosed significantly fewer babies with a permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) than expected following initial hearing screening assessment. ​​This work is integral to collating national data to inform NHSE of provider status and support the direction for quality service improvement as per the stated aim in the Operating Framework​.

​​The Paediatric Hearing Services Improvement Board includes all regional medical directors which has established the agreed system for assessment of all providers in every ICB. The return will be issued via regional operation centres to collate information, complete and return.​ 

The number of providers undertaking reassessment and recall, number of patients within these services and status will be analysed and reviewed via this return. Data collection to be used to inform national status to regional medical directors, executive directors and TOTO as well as strategic direction to support the system.​ 

There is now a need for assurance monitoring to provide updates to quality and performance committee.