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FAQ - What are the current National Service Frameworks and how are they implemented?

Answer

National Service Frameworks (NSFs) set national healthcare standards.  They are designed to improve the quality of health services and ensure that everyone gets the same level of care.  NSFs are a key part of the NHS quality initiatives.

The two main roles of NSFs are:

  • Setting clear quality requirements for care based on the best available evidence, and
  • Offering strategies and support to support and help health organisations achieve these standards.
Each NSF sets a target from improving the standard of care and the associated healthcare outcomes related to that care.  For example, the target for the Coronary Heart Disease NSF is to reduce death from heart disease and strokes by 40% by 2010.
Aims and Objectives of NSFs
NSFs can have a number of different aims and objectives.  For example, the diabetes NSF has strategies to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, identify diabetes in people who are not aware that they have the condition, and improving overall diabetes care.
The NSF for older people has strategies to tackle ageism, and to address conditions commonly related to older people, such as strokes.
The mental health NSF focuses on the safety of people with mental health problems, their careers, and the public.  Key objectives include ensuring that mental health services are accessible to those who need them, are non-discriminatory, and offer choices that promote independence.
Structure of NSFs
NSFs are designed to be inclusive and are developed in partnership with health professionals, patients, carers, health service managers, voluntary agencies, charities and other experts.
This is why each NSF is developed with an External Reference Group (ERG).  TO ensure that a wide variety of of views are considered, ERGs are made up of both health health professionals and patients, and they are managed by the Department of Health.
At present, there are NSFs in the areas of cancer, paediatric intensive care, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, mental health, renal services, long-term conditions, children and old people.
A new NSF about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was published in 2008, and further information can be found here.

 

 

Disclaimer: This FAQ was written by Christopher Smith and does not reflect an official endorsement by the HEA or any other organisation.  Any questions or queries should be sent to: enquiries@medev.ac.uk

Last updated: 04 July 2011

 
 
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