Review of audits of NHS foundation trusts

Summarises the findings of annual reviews of NHS foundation trust audits.

We commission the Quality Assurance Department (QAD) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) to review the work of a sample of NHS foundation trust auditors each year.
The work is performed on a sample basis: a number of audits are reviewed for each financial year and we publish an anonymised summary of the QAD’s findings for the benefit of all NHS foundation trusts and their auditors.

We are exercising the responsibility conferred on Monitor under paragraph 24 (4B&4C) of the NHS Act 2006 as amended by Schedule 12, paragraph 74 (2) of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. This responsibility only relates to audits at NHS foundation trusts.

Audit quality monitoring for NHS trusts is subject to separate arrangements and is not overseen by us.