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NHS Education for Scotland

A skilled and sustainable workforce for a healthier Scotland

NES value-based health and care resources

NES value-based health and care resources

NES value-based health and care resources

What is value-based health and care

Value-based health and care is about making the most of the resources we have in order to provide the best value care for patients and service-users. By practicing realistic medicine, by sharing decisions about health and wellbeing, we can support people to make an informed choice about their treatment and care – based on what matters most.

How NES supports value based health and care

NES, in collaboration with Scottish Government, have developed three online resources (Sway) to support value-based health and care. All of which have been tested with staff at board level.

The resources

Unwarranted Variation

Unwarranted Variation is an important aspect of delivering value based health and care as it can identify areas of overuse or underuse of service. The Unwarranted Variation Sway covers:

  • what is unwarranted variation
  • the impact of unwarranted variation on the health and care system, and on individuals
  • data that we can use to discover, explore and understand unwarranted variation

Outcomes and Experiences that Matter to People

Outcomes and Experiences that Matter to People is a key element of delivering value based health and care as it links to personal outcomes. The Outcomes and Experiences that Matter to People Sway covers:

  • the different outcomes that matter to people receiving health and social care
  • the importance of outcomes in providing effective person-centred care
  • reflecting on the practical application of outcome focused approaches
  • the impact on individuals' experience and engagement with shared decision-making, informed consent and individual autonomy

How to Measure Shared Decision Making

How to Measure Shared Decision Making is for all staff working in health and social care. This toolkit provides the resources and materials to allow teams, services or organisations to evidence and measure peoples experiences of shared decision making. The How to Measure Shared Decision Making Sway covers:

  • information for staff
  • information poster
  • patient survey
  • instructions on how to create a patient survey
  • data collection spreadsheet

Find out more about Shared Decision Making on Turas Learn. This page also includes an eLearning module Realistic Conversations: Shared Decision Making in Practice (currently under review).

Each resource:

  • is for all staff working in health and social care
  • will take a maximum of 30 minutes to complete
  • includes a knowledge checker at the end - which will provide the learner with a certificate

Please these resources widely with your network

Further information

Find out more about Value Based Health and Care on Turas Learn. This page also includes an eLearning module, Introduction to Value Based Health and Care.


April, 25 2024