Retrospective audit of standards and quality in colposcopy services in a district hospital

A retrospective audit to compare the performance of a colposcopy clinic with the standards set by National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) was carried out at Caerphilly District Miners Hospital, South Wales, United Kingdom. The study sample size consisted of 150 women who underwent colposcopy and diathermy large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) for abnormal cytology during January l995 to January 1998. The results showed deficiencies in the areas of communication for clinic appointments for women with high-grade cytology and in information given to general practitioners about test results. The services fell short of the standards in recording of colposcopy findings and grading of lesions. The rest of the parameters audited reached the NHSCSP standards. Recommendations to improve communication and to increase the objectivity of recording colposcopy findings were made. A more practical approach to set standards in areas of communication was suggested.