Scotland - National standards and key strategies
Some of the resources on this page are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
National standards
The healthcare quality strategy for NHS Scotland (2010)
The Scottish Government's Quality Strategy is a development of 'Better Health, Better Care' (2007) which made a series of commitments to improve the health of everyone in Scotland and to improve the quality of health care and the health care experience. This quality strategy builds on these foundations and identifies three health care quality ambitions: to support the delivery of person-centred, safe and effective care to the people of Scotland. Progress will be measured against 12 national quality outcome measures.
See also: Scottish Government: Quality Strategy.
Releasing Time to Care (RTC) and Leading Better Care have been important initiatives within the strategy. Healthcare Improvement Scotland is now supporting the growth of RTC in Scotland - see Releasing Time to Care. See also the Leading Better Care website which highlights the aims to be achieved by March 2013. Further details are given in the paper LBC - delivering for patients (Word 370KB).
Healthcare Quality Standard: Assuring person centered, safe and effective care: clinical governance and risk management (2011)
The draft Healthcare Quality Standard from Healthcare Improvement Scotland is the new core clinical governance and risk management standard for Scotland and will be used to test the arrangements that health care organisations have in place to deliver against the Healthcare Quality Strategy quality ambitions. The emphasis is on continuous self-evaluation and quality; the focus of accountability has changed. "Rather than waiting for us to review performance, we expect health care organisations to demonstrate that they are actively implementing the clinical governance and risk management principles set out earlier." There is one overarching standard supported by five evidence-based clinical governance and risk management domains and self-evaluation questions. The consultation process ends on 30 September 2011.
Clinical Governance and Risk Management; achieving safe, effective, patient-focused care and services (2005)
The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) document 'Standards for Clinical Governance and Risk Management' came into effect from November 2005. The standards have been developed to ensure NHS boards in Scotland have clinical governance and risk management arrangements in place to support the delivery of safe, effective, patient-focused care and services. There are three standards covering core areas: safe and effective services; the health, wellbeing and care experience; and assurance and accountability. These standards underpin all care and services delivered by NHSScotland and provide the context within which service and condition specific standards apply.
The standards are supported by a self-analysis framework completed by every NHS board and reviewed by NHS QIS. A self-assessment workbook and accompanying guidance are provided. This contributes to the assessment of performance which is undertaken by peer review teams.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland took over the responsibilities of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland on 1 April 2011.
Key strategies
You can also find related policy and reports within each of the six themes. View the six themes on the clinical governance homepage.
Delivering Quality in Primary Care National Action Plan: implementing the Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland (2010)
This Scottish Government publication, which has been endorsed by the RCN, sets goals including improving access for patients, implementing the national patient safety programme in primary care, ensuring more effective partnerships between different primary care professionals, and improving communication between primary and secondary care.
Better health, better care (2007)
The Scottish Government's strategy for a healthier Scotland - Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan was launched on 12 December 2007. The action plan outlines the actions the Scottish Government will take over the next five years to improve health. The central themes of the action plan are patient participation, improved health care access and a focus on the twin challenges of improving Scotland's public health and tackling health inequalities.
For the related report on workforce implications see staff focus: policy and reports
Trust, assurance and safety: the regulation of health professionals in the 21st Century (2007)
This White Paper sets out a programme of reform to the United Kingdom's system for the regulation of health professionals. It is complemented by 'Safeguarding patients' - the Government's response to the recommendations of the Fifth Report of the Shipman Inquiry and to the recommendations of the Ayling, Neale and Kerr/Haslam Inquiries. It describes the measures required to ensure the independence of the national professional regulators, and the proposals for periodic revalidation of professional registration in which appraisal will be a key component. The processes for this revalidation will come through discussion with each profession and its regulator. Proposals are made for improving the investigation of concerns about health professionals at local and national levels, and for the extension of information held on professional registers and how this will be managed. The regulatory bodies will continue their responsibility for assuring the quality of educational standards.
Royal College of Nursing Policy Unit. Policy Briefing 04/2007: Trust, assurance and safety: the regulation of health professionals in the 21st Century (2007) (PDF 51.9KB)
This briefing presents the RCN view of the proposals made in the white paper, and provides a summary and synopsis of proposals that affect nursing regulation.
Delivering for Health (2005)
This programme describes in practical terms what action Scotland will take to turn their vision of the health service into reality. It builds on the National Framework for Service Change to provide a template for the future NHS Scotland.
For the related report on workforce implications see Staff focus: policy and reports
Building a health service fit for the future (2005)
A Scottish Executive and NHS Scotland report on the future of the NHS in Scotland. This is a national framework for service change which provides a policy context as well as a plan of action. 'The NHS in Scotland and the public must work hand in hand in order to deliver a health service that is fit for the future.' A number of key recommendations and proposals are outlined.
Building a health service fit for the future. Volume 2 A guide for the NHS (2005)
A Scottish Executive and NHS Scotland report on the future of the NHS in Scotland. This is a national framework for service change providing a policy context as well as a plan of action. 'The NHS in Scotland and the public must work hand in hand in order to deliver a health service that is fit for the future.' A number of key recommendations and proposals are outlined.
Fair to all, personal to each (2004)
'Fair to all, personal to each' reiterates the fundamental principles of health care in Scotland, outlining progress to date in key areas including staffing, delivery of services, listening to patients the patient experience and primary care. This paper introduces specific plans to tackle waiting, and points to further work on specialised NHS services, on clean hospitals, and on performance management of the NHS.
Partnership for care (2003)
'Partnership for care' sets out the Scottish Executive's policy on health. It builds on 'Our national health: a plan for action, a plan for change'. Patients and national standards are seen as key drivers of change in the health service and frontline staff as leaders of the change process. It also sets out the context for partnership working in Scotland and for the development of Community Health Partnerships.
Designed to care: renewing the National Health Service in Scotland (1997)
This White Paper 'Designed to care' introduced the concept of clinical governance to NHSScotland. This paper sets out the main agenda for the NHS in Scotland with the Government's new emphasis on the quality of services to patients.