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 your team's person-centred practice and initiatives on feedback and support for patients 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
• 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

Guidance: Annual Census Day data collection

Data collection Templates

• Annual Census Day Part 1: Whole Hospital Census (Word Template)
• Annual Census Day Part 2: Spot Audit Personal Information Document (Word Template)
• Annual Census Day Part 3: Spot Audit Sat Out Patients (Word Template)

Please note that the portal for data submission and login details will be sent to participating hospitals the week prior to Annual Census Day.

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

Join our upcoming QI webinar on pain assessment

As part of NAD’s ongoing Quality Improvement (QI) programme, we’re pleased to invite you to our next webinar focusing on pain assessment, taking place on 23 June 2026, 14:00–15:00.

This session will be led by QI facilitators Ste Nicholson (North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust) and Nic Burke (East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust). They will share practical insights, learning, and approaches to improving pain assessment in clinical practice - offering valuable takeaways to support your own service improvement work.

Get involved in our QI community

We are continuing to support a range of QI groups throughout 2026. These groups provide a collaborative space to share ideas, test improvements, and learn from peers, with support from dedicated volunteer Audit Leads.

Our current QI groups focus on:

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

Take part or lead the way

If you’re not yet involved, now is a great time to join. You can sign up to any of these groups via the Knowledge Hub and start contributing to this important work.

We are also looking for enthusiastic individuals to step forward as QI Group facilitators. If you’re passionate about improvement and would like to help lead and shape this work, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact NAD to register for the webinar, join a QI group, or find out more about becoming a facilitator.

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