The Nightingale Hospital Exeter is celebrating after being named as a National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider, successfully completing a national programme of local data audits.

The NRJ collects high-quality orthopaedic data in order to provide evidence to support patient safety, standards in quality of care, and overall cost-effectiveness in joint replacement surgery.

It monitors the performance of hip, knee, ankle, elbow and shoulder joint replacement operations, and the certificate scheme was introduced to offer hospitals a blueprint for reaching high-quality standards relating to patient safety and to reward those who have met registry targets.

Chris Crow, Divisional Director for the Nightingale Hospital Exeter, said: “Improving patient safety is always of the utmost importance and something the Nightingale takes very seriously, which is why we’re delighted to be named as an NJR Quality Data Provider.

“This is a fantastic recognition for the Nightingale and a real accomplishment for our teams, and it will help us continue to ensure the care we provide is of the highest standard for our patients.”

The NJR’s Data Quality Audit allows the registry to collect and report on the most complete and accurate data possible across all hospitals performing joint replacement operations, including the NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter, helping to facilitate improvements in clinical outcomes and governance for the benefit of joint replacement patients.

National Joint Registry Medical Director, Mr Tim Wilton, said: “Congratulations to colleagues at NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter. The Quality Data Provider Award demonstrates the high standards being met towards ensuring compliance with the NJR and is often a reflection of strong departmental efforts to achieve such status.

“As well as being a fundamental driver to inform improved quality of care for patients, registry data provides an important source of evidence for regulators, such as the Care Quality Commission, to inform their judgements about services.”

Full details about the NJR’s Quality Data Provider certificate scheme can be found online at www.njrcentre.org.uk.