Written question WQ85712

Quality Statements set out our vision and expectation for clinical services. These are important documents that set out ‘what good looks like’ and will inform national oversight of NHS delivery through the planning framework and the performance management system. They describe the outcomes and standards we expect to see in high quality, patient focused services.

The 2022-2025 Planning Framework reinforced the strategic importance of the National Clinical Framework and Quality Statements which “focus on the development of national pathways to support local improvement in the quality of services and address unwarranted variations in care”, for Health Boards and Trusts in developing their IMTPs. The planning framework for 2023 – 2026 will build upon this position recognising the schedule of publication for Quality Statements for 2022/23 and Ministerial priorities. Organisations will be expected to demonstrate in their IMTPs how they are addressing the requirements of the Quality Statements published to date and mechanisms for monitoring implementation and associated outcomes.

The quality statements will be underpinned by more detailed service specifications and where appropriate national pathways. These will be collaboratively developed by existing implementation groups, clinical networks and national programmes to support and galvanise the whole system response to quality statements. There is no requirement to develop supplementary action plans unless there is a reasonable and justified reason for doing so, for example, where complexity demands collation of the planning intent of NHS bodies in one document to present a coherent picture and further support the whole system response.