Introduction

1. Introduction

Since the publication of the 3rd edition of the Staff Governance Standard for NHSScotland Employees in 2007, there have been many developments impacting upon NHSScotland and its staff. Key amongst these is the Healthcare Quality Strategy for Scotland (the Quality Strategy), published in May 2010 and the Strategic Narrative and 20:20 Vision of what healthcare will look like. The Quality Strategy sets the policy direction for the delivery of healthcare services in Scotland now and for the future.

The Quality Strategy aim:

To deliver the highest quality healthcare services to people in Scotland, and, through this, to ensure that NHSScotland is recognised through its measurable improvement as amongst the best in the world.

The Quality Strategy is based on shared knowledge of what works well and builds on the range of excellent progress and work already underway at local, regional and national levels. The Quality Strategy is about a change in culture across Scotland in the way we deliver and engage in our healthcare. It weaves through everything we are already doing, and will be supported by the refocusing, alignment and integration of our work. NHSScotland is now focused on the pursuit of realising the three Quality Ambitions for healthcare in Scotland which are mutually exclusive:

  • Person-centred - Mutually beneficial partnerships between patients, their families and those delivering healthcare services which respect individual needs and values and which demonstrate compassion, continuity, clear communications and shared decision-making.
  • Safe - There will be no avoidable injury or harm to people from healthcare they receive, and an appropriate clean and safe environment will be provided for the delivery of healthcare services at all times.
  • Effective - The most appropriate treatments, interventions, support and services will be provided at the right time to everyone who will benefit, and wasteful or harmful variation will be eradicated.
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