A profile of family planning audit in England 1994-1997.

Audit has been entered into enthusiastically by most of the multidisciplinary teams giving family planning services but the nature of the subject makes audit particularly difficult in this field. In many cases it has been used as a tool for determining standards rather than a tool for determining compliance to them. If family planning audit and evaluation is to substantially improve in quality, a great deal of work needs to be done, particularly in the formation of appropriate guidelines and in the increased utilisation of audit/research specialists to advise on methodology. It is hoped that the new clinical effectiveness committee of the faculty will take a lead in this; if so it will undoubtedly gain support from faculty members.