The Role of NHS Boards

NHS Boards play a key role in shaping the strategy, vision, culture and purpose of an organisation. They hold the organisation to account for the delivery of strategy and ensure value for money.

NHS Boards are also responsible for assuring that risks to the organisation and the public are managed and mitigated effectively. Led by an independent chair and composed of a mixture of both executive and independent non-executive members, the Board has a collective responsibility for the performance of the organisation. Additionally for Foundation Trusts, the Council of Governors helps to shape the strategy and reflects the needs and priorities of patients, service users, carers, staff and local communities.

The purpose of NHS Boards is to govern effectively and in so doing build patient, service users, public and stakeholder confidence that their health and healthcare is in safe hands. This fundamental accountability to the public and stakeholders is delivered by building confidence:

In the quality and safety of health services.
That resources are invested in a way that delivers optimal health outcomes.
In the accessibility and responsiveness of health services.
That patients, service users and the public can help shape health services to meet their needs.
That public money is spent in a way that is fair, efficient, effective and economical.