HCSU Standards

The Standards for Better Health were published, by the Department of Health, formally in July 2004 and have been developed with two principal objectives. First, they provided a common set of requirements applying across all health care organisations to ensure that health services were provided that are both safe and of an acceptable quality. Second, they provided a framework for continuous improvement in the overall quality of care people received. The framework ensured that the extra resources being directed to the NHS were used to help raise the level of performance measurably year-on-year.

• Challenge discrimination
  
• Promote equality of access and quality of services
  
• Support the provision of services appropriate to individual needs, preferences and choices
• Sociology
  
• Respect and protect human rights
  
• Further the NHS's reputation as a model employer
  
• Enable NHS organisations to contribute to economic success and community cohesion.