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Commentary
National Service Frameworks
National Service Frameworks as tools for quality improvement
  1. K Checkland,
  2. M Marshall
  1. National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr K Checkland, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, 5th Floor, Williamson Building, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
 kcheck{at}fs1.cprc.man.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/qhc.11.3.211

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    National quality improvement initiatives will only be sustainable if sufficient resources are provided in primary care to allow a patient centred approach.

    One of the main challenges currently facing all health systems is the need to improve standards by reducing unjustified variations in care. A variety of approaches have been adopted around the world to meet this challenge. In this issue of QSHC, Underwood and Beck1 describe the use of National Service Frameworks (NSFs), one part of an ambitious programme of health system reform introduced in the UK in 1997.2

    National Service Frameworks are weighty documents produced by “expert reference groups”. These groups consist of representatives from general practice, the Royal Colleges, hospital specialists, and patient advocacy groups. In addition to setting national standards for clinical care, they also define models of service provision and establish performance measures. Progress against these performance measures will form part of the …

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