Pleural procedures

This study has been commissioned by Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership
as part of the Clinical Outcome Review Programme into Medical & Surgical care.
For information on how we use data click here

View the current study status

Data collection for study	To commence September 2025
Patient identification spreadsheet data collection	To commence August 2025
Clinical data collection	To commence September 2025
Organisational data collection	To commence September 2025
Publication date	Late 2026

Aim
To identify areas for improvement in the quality of care for patients undergoing pleural procedures (chest drains).
To review the incident investigations relating to ‘pleural procedures (chest drains)’ and associated lessons learned.
To identify patient safety incidents that have not been reported.

Participation
All hospitals in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Jersey, where patients are treated who require insertion of chest drains (including independent hospitals where applicable).

Patient identification spreadsheets
We will identify a sample of patients who were admitted to hospital between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2024 and had a chest drain inserted during their hospital stay.
We are currently waiting for approval to collect data for this study. Once we have approval, a spreadsheet will be disseminated to our Local Reporters to populate with basic details about patients who fit the criteria to participate in the study.

Clinician questionnaires
Should be completed by the clinician responsible for the patient at the time of discharge (to be disseminated)
Clinician survey
This is being collected in collaboration with GSST and will look at the confidence and competence of clinicians who are inserting chest drains.
Case note extracts for review
Case notes will be requested for all patients included in the peer review aspect of the study.
Organisational questionnaires
An organisational questionnaire will be sent to all hospitals where patients might undergo chest drains
This survey will not be linked to quality accounts.
Any other queries relating to this study should be also addressed to pleural@ncepod.org.uk.