A Census Day within a one-week period across all hospitals to collect timely, on-the-spot information about the prevalence (total number at one time) of patients living with dementia admitted to hospitals. Focus point to raise awareness about you team's person-centred practice and initiatives on feedback and support for patient living with dementia and carers.

Annual Census Day objectives

1. Point-in-time prevalence: Collate totals from all wards on the number of inpatients living with dementia or cognitive impairment in each hospital. This will achieve a national and local picture of prevalence. 
2. Awareness and support: Raise awareness of dementia resources and carer support available in the hospital (e.g. John’s Campaign) and how to access them.
3. Personal information document supporting care: Mini spot audit (3 wards) to measure the percentage of patients with dementia with a “This is Me” or an equivalent information document in place.
4. Mobility and engagement: Mini spot audit to measure the percentage of patients with dementia appropriately sat-out of bed across three selected wards.

Data to collect (on the day)

Ward Census (point prevalence)

• Total inpatients at snapshot time
• Number with known dementia diagnosis (from EPR or notes)
• Number with suspected cognitive impairment (based on recent screening/clinical judgment)

Mini Spot Audits

1. Personal information document

• Sample a subset of patients (e.g. 20 across 3 different ward types)
• Record whether a 'This is Me' (or equivalent) document is present and visible in the notes or at bedside
• Metric: % with information document in place in total sample
• Additional quality improvement/learning opportunity: is information required to provide care recorded? Is information about the person's preferences (e.g. name) and dislikes recorded?

2. Sat out of bed (mobility/engagement)

• In three wards of different types, sample during a designated morning period
• Note whether the patient was sat out of bed and dressed during the time period
• Metric: % sat out in total ward

Census Day spot audit registration link

A Healthcare Quality Improvement Plan was developed for acute general hospitals over the course of 2025 through consultation with NAD's Clinical Audit Leads, Steering, Implementation and Lived Experience Groups. The draft plan outlines the goals and key metrics prioritised for audit and is subject to change / further development related to feasibility.

Healthcare Quality Improvement Plan for Acute General Hospitals

Building on from NAD's 2025 Quality Improvement (QI) webinar series, the team will support the following QI Groups with their planned activities in 2026. The QI Groups will be led and facilitated by Audit Lead volunteers.

• Admission to acute care ED wait times
• Bed moves
• Discharge planning
• Discharge to usual place of care
• Pain assessment

If you haven’t yet registered but would like to be involved, please join any of these groups via the Knowledge Hub.

Please contact NAD if you are interested in becoming a QI Group facilitator.

In 2026, NAD plans to evaluate online-only collection of patient and carer feedback using our previously validated questionnaires. If successful, this will reduce costs and local staff support and resources required.

Evaluation of data collection periods

Participating hospitals will be asked to collect patient and carer feedback data during one of two periods:

Short, intensive collection period

• Target 10–15 returns per site within a dedicated timeframe (e.g. Carers’ Week), leveraging planned events to engage carers.
• Use this period to actively promote questionnaires in multiple languages to improve uptake.

Ongoing data collection

• Maintain continuous availability of both questionnaires with a suggested minimum of two-three returns per month over a nine-month period.
• Minimum 10 returns per quarter for inter-quarter comparison.

Please note this is a voluntary exercise - your hospital is not obligated to participate.

Patient and Carer data collection pilot registration

Please see NAD's Information governance page for more information on how data is collected and used for the National Audit of Dementia.