https://club.hcqc.co.uk/c/self-audits/edit-lesson/sections/517638/lessons/2909561
In general practice, good communication isn’t just about teamwork — it’s about safety. Every time a patient’s care is passed from one clinician to another, whether within the practice or across services, there is a risk that something important could be missed.
A handover is more than an administrative process — it’s a safety-critical exchange of information. Incomplete, rushed, or unclear handovers are among the most common root causes of patient safety incidents in primary care.
This week’s audit helps practices assess how effectively information is transferred between staff, teams, and external partners to ensure continuity, clarity, and accountability in patient care.
Why This Audit Was Created
This audit supports practices in evidencing safe, structured, and well-governed communication processes, in line with:
- Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment
- Regulation 17: Good governance
- Regulation 18: Staffing
And the following CQC “We” statements:
- Safe systems, pathways and transitions (Safe)
- How staff and teams work together (Effective)
- Governance, management and sustainability (Well-led)
It aims to ensure handovers are accurate, recorded, and actioned — protecting patients, reducing risk, and strengthening team communication.
Why It Matters
- Patient safety: Clear handovers prevent missed results, delayed treatments, or duplicated care.
- Continuity: Patients benefit when information is consistently passed on and understood by all involved.
- Efficiency: Good communication saves time, reduces errors, and supports coordinated care.
- CQC assurance: Effective handovers are a core element of demonstrating safe and well-led care during inspections.
What Good Practice Looks Like
- Clear, standardised handover procedures within the practice team.
- Reliable communication between clinicians, nurses, and administrative staff.
- Robust use of clinical systems to document, assign, and track actions.
- Smooth coordination with hospitals, pharmacies, and community services.
- Leadership oversight and learning from handover-related incidents or SEAs.
Final Thoughts
When communication works well, patients experience safer, smoother care — and staff feel supported and informed.
By completing this audit, practices can identify where handover processes may be vulnerable, strengthen governance, and embed a culture where information is shared clearly, promptly, and professionally.
Good communication is the foundation of patient safety — and it starts with every handover.
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