Impacts case study

Strong and clear accountability in a devolved delivery system has been a common theme running through our recent health studies and our work has highlighted examples where accountability required further definition. Obtaining consistent and reliable data is also an important element of strong accountability, something we have considered.

What are impacts?

Our 2013 report on maternity services in England recommended that the Department of Health clarify its objectives for maternity services and explicitly state who was accountable for their implementation. The department clarified these accountabilities in its revised Accounting Officer System Statement, published in October 2014. Our 2014 report on NHS waiting times for elective care in England recommended the department clarify its assurance processes over the data quality for waiting lists. Following our report, Monitor amended its annual reporting guidance to require all NHS foundation trusts to include in their annual governance statements an explicit statement on how they assure data quality, accuracy and risk.