Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
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The work of surgical departments involves varying proportions of investigation, diagnosis and treatment and the object of audit is to measure and monitor the outcome of this activity. It also serves as a secondary but important role in education, research and resource planning. The different methods of audit described in this symposium gave varying contributions to the definition of workload and outcome and to the education of the surgical staff. ⋯ The determination fo longer term response to surgical treatment in terms of graft patency,tumour recurrence and patient survival is not possible by any of the methods currently described. It is an undertaking of great importance and proportions and clearly has a bearing on clinical practice. Short term clinical audit will therefore be only one part of the evaluation of surgical care.