Series 2: Episode 3: Case examples

Learn about Quality Improvement with small bite-sized episodes of content. Just like streaming services, you can scroll and pick and choose what you want to watch or listen to. 

This section is unlike the other episodes in our QI Boxset. This is a library of all RCVS Knowledge’s clinical audit case examples. By searching for a topic, you will be able to find examples of other teams’ clinical audits that are most relatable to your area of work. Please choose the examples you’d like to read, watch, or listen to, and be inspired.

You can go beyond audit and learn about the science of improvement in 'Episode 4: Beyond audit, the science of improvement' where you will discover how to embed a system of continuous improvement, how to plan, measure, and assess your QI projects, and how sustainability alongside QI can help reduce waste and improve workflow in practice. You can then return here to browse through the case examples to find out how other practices have implemented clinical audits in their setting.

Course image Auditing an equine surgical safety checklist
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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This case example shows how the team at Newnham Court Equine implemented a surgical safety checklist to improve patient safety. Completion of the checklist is monitored through regular auditing.

CPD: 10 minutes
Authors: Newnham Court Equine


× surgical × safety × checklist × auditing × equine × horse × surgery × knowledge awards × 2020 × highly commended
Course image Post-operative neutering complications
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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This award-winning case example shows how post-operative neutering complications were monitored using the National Audit for Small Animal Neutering. Complications were cut down by half by assessing hygiene and post-operative care guidelines.

CPD: 20 minutes
Authors: Louise Northway


× neutering × spay × castrate × routine × surgical × dog × cat × complication × outcome × small animal × companion animal × NASAN × vetAUDIT × knowledge awards × champion × 2020
Course image Post-operative temperature audit
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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This case example shows how Sandra Hunt and her team at The Laurels performed an audit to see if post-operative temperatures were being taken in practice. Once they had identified their in-house benchmark, they then set out to improve, and re-audit to measure their improvement.

CPD: 10 minutes
Authors: Sandra Hunt


× hypothermia × temperature × post-operative × surgical × small animal × companion animal × dog × cat × knowledge awards × highly commended × 2020
Course image Dental analgesia audit
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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This case example shows how Kay Lockwood, from Riversbrook Veterinary Group, performed an audit to see if feline patients were receiving local anaesthetic nerve blocks when having dental extractions.

CPD: 10 minutes
Authors: Kay Lockwood


× dental × cat × feline × analgesia × pain relief × anaesthesia × surgery × small animal × companion animal × knowledge awards × 2020 × highly commended
Course image Peri-operative temperature audit
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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This case example shows how Holly Warrilow RVN performed several audits over short periods to identify whether patient temperatures were being taken during the peri-operative period and to implement improvements to benefit patient care within the same period. Holly was awarded Highly Commended in the 2020 Knowledge Awards for her QI initiative.

CPD: 10 minutes
Authors: Holly Warrilow RVN


× hypothermia × temperature × small animal × companion animal × dog × cat × operative × surgical × recovery × Knowledge award × 2020 × highly commended
Course image Warm air blanket and hypothermia audit
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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This audit was inspired after the practice purchased a warm air circulating blanket for anaesthetic procedures, prompting the team to perform a process audit to ensure that the equipment was being utilised, and an outcome audit to see if the equipment was having a positive effect on patient care and recovery.

CPD: 20 minutes
Authors: Dr. Jessica Pennock


× Knowledge award × champion × audit × hypothermia × process × outcome × small animal × companion animal × dog × cat × 2021 × peri-operative hypothermia
Course image A Dystocia Case Study
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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The team at Vets Now identified room for improvement in the care of dystocia cases. A working group was created to support clinicians with decision-making and improve patient welfare by using audit and benchmarking data to inform guidelines and resources relevant to care provided by Vets Now Ltd. The level of engagement in the audit highlighted team-wide commitment to improving patient outcomes.

CPD: 30 minutes
Authors: Vets Now Ltd
Course image Post-operative Temperature Audit
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Donview Veterinary Centre, part of the VetPartners group, demonstrated a strong learning culture and a dedication to improvement through an initiative aimed at improving post-operative temperatures. Working together, the team performed audits and used the results to assess where they can improve, successfully implementing change to create measurable improvements.

CPD: 14 minutes
Authors: Jennifer O'Connor
Course image NOTAN – Notice to Anaesthetists
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists introduced a Notice to Anaesthetists (NOTAN), a notice inspired by the aviation industry that highlights any changes that might have safety implications. The NOTAN was introduced after a team survey identified gaps in knowledge about the latest information on anaesthesia practice, protocols, and equipment.

CPD: 8 minutes
Authors: Matt Gurney
Course image Post-operative Outcomes
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Eloise Collins used checklists, auditing, benchmarking, team meetings and journal clubs to help improve patient care and outcomes and to improve practice culture. Eloise helped to create psychological safety amongst the team through her open and honest approach. The application showed how an improvement culture involving the entire team creates positive change

CPD: 16 minutes
Authors: Eloise Collins
Course image Review of dental X-ray machine use
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Filham Park used clinical audit to review their use of the dental x-ray machine, identifying gaps in x-ray provision and providing clients with appropriate estimates. Training was implemented to improve skills and confidence, leading to an increase in service provision on repeat audit, and increased client satisfaction.

CPD: 22 minutes
Authors: Filham Park Veterinary Clinic
Course image Protection of critically important antimicrobials
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Paragon Referrals focused on the protection of critically important antimicrobials by bringing together an Antimicrobial Stewardship Team, creating guidelines based on the Plan Protect Prevent mantra and running in-house CPD. The team found improvements in prescribing culture, communication and a more open environment when discussing the appropriate use of antibiotics.  

CPD: 23 minutes
Authors: Paragon Referrals
Course image Antibiotic use in surgical calf castrates
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Tonia Simms from The Farm Vets at Hampden Veterinary Hospital (VetPartners), explored the use of antibiotics in surgical calf castrates. Tonia created a risk assessment and policy to reduce the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics.  The actions of the team following the introduction of the interventions led to an increase in morale and confidence around not prescribing prophylactic antibiotics without compromising welfare. 

CPD: 16 minutes
Authors: Tonia Simms
Course image Cat Bite Abscess Clinical Audit
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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White Lodge Veterinary Surgery, CVS, carried out a prospective audit to review the use of antibiotics, with a focus of antibiotic use in cat bite abscesses. With the introduction of checklists and in-house CPD they were able to treat 86% of their patients successfully without antibiotics without compromising welfare.

CPD: 25 minutes
Authors: Paul Stanley, Emily Parr
Course image Ovine Lambings and Caesarean Sections
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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David Charles, who was working at Scarsdale Vets, part of the IVC Evidensia Farm Vets group at the time of the project, carried out an audit across a number of practices within the UK to collect baseline data on ovine lambings and caesareans. David introduced training and how-to guides, used SMART goals and put several recommendations on the provision of analgesia, selection and use of antibiotics and the use of adjunctive medications in place for the team to follow. The strong adoption of the recommendations across the practices resulted in a reduction in prophylactic antibiotic use, with improved use of local anaesthetics and the provision of analgesia.

CPD: 27 minutes
Authors: David Charles
Course image Pre-warming patients to prevent hypothermia
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Leanne McLeod from Earlswood Veterinary Hospital introduced a hypothermia audit with a focus on pre-warming patients before general anaesthesia. By introducing new protocols for the provision of passive warming from pre-medication, her team reduced the incidence of hypothermic patients from 100% to 16%.

CPD: 20 minutes
Authors: Leanne McLeod
Course image Re-finding our Joy in Work
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Active Vetcare, CVS, focused on re-finding Joy in Work by carrying out a baseline survey to discover how the team felt about working at the practice. They introduced ‘What Matters to You?’ training and followed the Joy in Work framework. They introduced a Joy in Work Board, a Joy-O-Meter and a suggestion box. The team felt more engaged and were being listened to and the practice had a productive approach to addressing issues.

CPD: 10 minutes
Authors: Active Vetcare
Course image Workplace Wellbeing
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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Hayley Potter from Old Golf House Vet Group introduced a ‘What Matters to You?’ initiative to improve workplace wellbeing with Joy in Work resources used to aid the change. The introduction of wellbeing meetings brought about several interventions to help boost morale and Net Promoter Score (NPS) score. 

CPD: 9 minutes
Authors: Hayley potter
Course image Cefovecin Project: A Clinical Audit
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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CVS South 4 Region used ‘Plan, Prevent, Protect’ to devise strategies to reduce antibiotic use, including team training and guidance documents.  The team achieved an impressive 70% reduction in the use of long-acting antibiotics in the treatment of bite wounds and superficial skin infections in cats, without compromising patient welfare. This improved their overall responsible use of Highest Priority, Critically Important Antibiotics (HPCIAs), achieving a 65% reduction in their average use.

CPD: 23 minutes
Authors: CVS South 4 Region
Course image Hypertension: Enhancing the identification and treatment of at-risk patients
Episode 3: Audit case examples
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The Group Hub Clinical Leadership Team, CVS, carried out a clinical audit into blood pressure in cats on a national scale. The team created a wide range of guidance documents and provided team training. The nationwide initiative led to an increase in blood pressure monitoring, enabling earlier identification and treatment of hypertension in cats aged 7 years or older.

CPD: 20 minutes
Authors: The Group Hub Clinical Leadership Team, CVS