PICANet is a web-based audit database that records and stores the details of the treatment of critically ill children from across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
In March of 2021, PICANet was commissioned by NHS England and Improvement to undertake a development project to expand its clinical audit to include data collection and reporting of children in discrete Level 2 PCC units (sometimes referred to as ‘High Dependency Units’). Initially we ran a Level 2 pilot study to test the feasibility and quality of data collection in seven Level 2 critical care units in England.
Upon successful completion of the pilot study in October 2022, the outcomes and feedback were assessed and appropriate changes were implemented to improve the data quality and the data collection process.
The PICANet Level 2 data collection commenced initially in February 2023 and is being rolled out nationally on a progressive course and in response to NHS England and Operational Delivery Network designation of Level 2 PCC.
In 2026, the Level 2 data collection was incorporated into the National Paediatric Critical Care Audit commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) as part of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP). This brings the data collection from Level 2 PCC units in line with NHS Level 3 PICU and transport teams in England.
Level 2 Expansion Documents (data collection form, manuals and guidance) can be found in the Level 2 Expansion Documents section of our website.
If you have any questions about the Level 2 data collection please contact Emily Evans, PICANet Audit and Research Assistant.
We also have specific patient and families leaflets and a poster for the Level 2 expansion of PICANet, which can be found in the Children, Young People and Families Information section of our website.
For further updates, click here to visit the News section of our website.