Desktop assessment is a method of assessment that primarily involves a document review of evidence provided by a healthcare service to demonstrate implementation of standards. They are generally conducted remotely by appropriately qualified assessors and allow for follow up questions or clarification with the healthcare service during the day(s) of the scheduled assessment.

This document maps the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards with the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards (Primary and Community Healthcare Standards).

This issue includes items on the revised Emergency Triage Education Kit, values and ethics in healthcare improvement, retained swabs, electronic medication management, antimicrobial stewardship, paediatric medication safety, workplace violence, behaviour, locums, telemedicine, COVID-19, and more. 

Also covered are the latest from BMJ Quality & Safety, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, and Health Policy along with the latest from the UK’s NICE and the USA’s AHRQ.

This series of quick-start guides has been developed to help people to rapidly understand and implement the essential elements. Implementing the tasks in these guides will help to ensure that the essential elements are in operation and working effectively.

This infographic summarises the most recent hand hygiene compliance audit data and is for use in your local World Hand Hygiene Day activities.

This hand hygiene quiz is for use by healthcare workers including infection prevention and control leads in your local World Hand Hygiene Day activities.  

You can use this quiz as a tool to help reinforce hand hygiene practices among colleagues in your healthcare setting.