How we make decisions

You are here: Home / About us / How we make decisions

How we make decisions

Attention: open in a new window.

Investing in Hampshire’s health involves taking difficult decisions. NHS Hampshire has a limited budget which means that every pound spent on one aspect of health care means a pound that cannot be spent on another.

We, therefore, need to demonstrate publicly that our strategic decisions about how we invest in your health are justifiable.

In shaping our strategic goals NHS Hampshire uses the following guiding principles which are based upon our ethical framework:

1. Clinical effectiveness. Can a particular course of action be justified by research-based evidence about its clinical effectiveness?

2. Capacity of patients to benefit. To what extent will a particular intervention work for a particular type of patient or population group?

3. Cost-effectiveness. Can a particular course of action be justified in terms of value for money relative to: (i) alternatives for a particular condition and (ii) opportunity costs (i.e. investment that is foregone in other areas)?

4. Choice and voice for patients and the public. To what extent do decisions reflect the expressed views and preferences of patients and the public?

5. Flexibility. Do proposals leave sufficient headroom to deal with unforeseen developments over the medium term and, in the case of individual patients, do they leave room for individual cases to be considered on their merits through established procedures?

6. Fairness over time. Are the proposals sustainable over time so that they address the future requirements of patients as well as meeting immediate health care needs?

7. Priority needs. Will people be able to access urgent and lifesaving treatment when they need it and will people with long-term health conditions get the help they need from the NHS to live their lives independently?

8. Inclusiveness. All those we serve matter equally, so decisions should not systematically disadvantage specific groups of people either directly or indirectly on the basis of characteristics that are not clinically relevant. This means having regard not just to gender, race, age and sexual orientation but also to those suffering from geographical isolation, multiple deprivation and historic inequalities in access to care and health outcomes.

If you want to be more involved in how we make decisions then sign up to receive tailored information and engagement opportunities relevant to your health interests.