eP55 Nela Compliance in A District General Hospital: A Clinical Re-Audit

Abstract Background and Aim The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) is a national clinical audit, commissioned by the Health Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), under the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP). NELA aims to enhance the quality of care for patients undergoing emergency laparotomies by providing high-quality comparative data from care providers. The aim of this re-audit is to assess compliance with NELA data entry by the trust, compare the results with the first audit cycle post-intervention and to ensure continuous trust compliance. Methods A re-audit was conducted using electronic data from emergency laparotomies performed between June and September 2024. All emergency laparotomies performed within this period were included, while non-emergency laparotomies and those outside the timeframe were excluded. The re-audit compared data from an initial audit cycle (which assessed data collection over a year), identifying compliance rates for data entry into the NELA database. Results In the initial audit, 111 laparotomies were performed, with 66% (n = 73) entered into the NELA database, while 34% (n = 38) were not. This re-audit revealed an increase in compliance, with 71% (n = 10) of 14 laparotomies entered, and 28% (n = 4) not entered. Conclusion The re-audit showed an improvement in compliance. Key interventions such as incorporating surgical registrars into the NELA team, redesigning the theatre booking form, and ensuring continuity of team roles during doctors' inductions were effective in boosting data entry rates. Continuous audits and improvements will help ensure sustained compliance and improved patient outcomes.