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About > About SSNAP

About SSNAP

The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) is a major national healthcare quality improvement programme based in the School of Life Course and Population Sciences at King’s College London.  SSNAP measures the quality and organisation of stroke care in the NHS across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Our measurement

SSNAP measures both the processes of care (clinical audit) provided to stroke patients, as well as the structure of stroke services (organisational audit) against evidence based standards.

Our aim

The overall aim of SSNAP is to provide timely information to clinicians, commissioners, patients and the public on how well stroke care is being delivered.

Using SSNAP

SSNAP's information is used as a tool to improve the quality of care that is provided to patients. Healthcare professionals involved in audit have voted SSNAP the most effective national clinical audit in the UK every year since 2012.

Involvement of people affected by stroke is at the heart of SSNAP’s work. We regularly meet patient groups to showcase reports and gain feedback about important issues for patients. At least two patient voice representatives sit on SSNAP’s steering group . SSNAP’s easy access version reports and annual report are written in close collaboration with patients. SSNAP also attends patient focused conferences across the country every year. Click here for more information about patient involvement, and for flyers, leaflets and reports.

Is participation in SSNAP audits mandatory? 

The SSNAP clinical audit is one of the audits in the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP) managed by HQIP and is included in Quality Accounts.

The core dataset for SSNAP is mandated for relevant providers: “The provider must participate in any national programme within the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme relevant to the services”: https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-standard-contract/ and https://www.hqip.org.uk/resource/hqip-statutory-and-mandatory-requirements-in-clinical-audit-guidance/. However, SSNAP would like providers to participate because they recognise the benefit to their stroke service.

Find us

Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme
Kings College London
Addison House
Guy's Campus
London
SE1 1UL

Support

0116 464 9901
ssnap@kcl.ac.uk