NNAP audit measures

For full details of the NNAP audit measures please visit https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/work-we-do/quality-improvement-patient-safety/national-neonatal-audit-programme-nnap/measures

Funnel plots

The outlier funnel plots show data from all the units or networks contributing to this measure to NNAP. In 2022, both unit and network level outlier analysis are conducted without shrinkage applied. Prior to 2020, shrinkage was applied in developing the unit level funnel plots. More information about the outlier methodology and management policy is available at: www.rcpch.ac.uk/nnap-data-flow-methodology

More information about this method can be found in the NNAP statistical analysis plan, available at: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/work-we-do/quality-improvement-patient-safety/national-neonatal-audit-programme-nnap/about#outlier-methodology-and-policy

Units or networks are arranged on the horizontal axis according to their caseloads, smallest at the left-hand margin and largest at the right-hand margin. The vertical axis shows the proportion associated with the audit measure -- for most measures, higher proportions indicate better performance. Each unit or network is represented by a single dot. The standard, or the overall proportion, is indicated by a horizontal solid line. The two blue curves delimit the proportions that can be expected for a unit (or network) whose performance is equal to this standard.

A unit or network can use this graph to identify an opportunity for quality improvement. One way to do this is by finding a comparator unit or network that has performed much better, and comparing the clinical and other practices in these two units (or networks).