Appendix 1: development of the standards

Healthcare Improvement Scotland has established a robust process for developing standards, which is informed by international standards development methodology.⁴⁹ This ensures the standards:

are fit for purpose and informed by current evidence and practice
set out clearly what people who use services can expect to experience
are an effective quality assurance tool.

The standards have been informed by current evidence, best practice recommendations, national policy and are developed by expert group consensus. The standards have been co-created with key stakeholders and people with lived experience from across Scotland.

Evidence base

A review of the literature was carried out using an explicit search strategy developed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Research and Information Service. Additional searching was done through citation chaining and identified websites, grey literature and stakeholder knowledge. Searches included Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, NICE, SIGN, NHS Evidence and Department of Health and Social Care websites. This evidence was also informed equalities impact assessments. Standards are mapped to a number of information sources to support statements and criteria. This includes, but is not limited to:

government policy
approaches to healthcare delivery and design, such as person-centred care
clinical guidelines, protocols or standards
professional or regulatory guidance, best practice or position statements
evidence from improvement.

Standards development

The development of standards is underpinned by the views and expectations of health care staff, third sector representatives, people accessing the service and the public. The standards development process included:

four development group meetings held between October 2023 and October 2024
an editorial review panel meeting in November 2024
a seven-week consultation on the draft standards
final development group meeting in January 2025
final editorial review panel meeting in March 2025.

Information about the development group and editorial panel is set out in Appendices 2 and 3.

Consultation feedback and finalisation of the standards

Following consultation, the standards development group reconvened to review the comments received on the draft standards and make final decisions and changes. More information can be found in the consultation feedback report, which is available on request from the standards and indicators team.

Quality assurance

All Standards Development Group members were responsible for advising on the professional aspects of the standards. Clinical members of the Standards Development Group advised on clinical aspects of the work. The co-Chairs had lead responsibility for formal clinical assurance and sign off on the technical and professional validity and acceptability of any reports or recommendations from the group.

All Standards Development Group members made a declaration of interest at the beginning of the project. They also reviewed and agreed to the Standards Development Group’s terms of reference. More details are available on request from standards and indicators team.

The standards were developed within the Operating Framework for Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Government (2022), which highlights the principles of independence, openness, transparency and accountability.

For more information about HIS’s role, direction and priorities, please visit: Healthcare Improvement Scotland.