National Service Framework

National Service Frameworks (NSFs) are policies set by the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom to define standards of care for major medical issues such as cancer, coronary heart disease, mental health and diabetes. NSFs are also defined for some key patient groups including children and older people.

The two main roles of NSFs are:

1. Set clear quality requirements for care based on the best available evidence of what treatments and services work most effectively for patients.
2. Offer strategies and support to help organisations achieve these.

Sources

• Department of Health: National Service Framework
• NHS: National Service Framework (text used with permission)