NHS Outcomes Framework (NHSOF)
The National Health Service Outcomes Framework (NHSOF) is a set of indicators which are grouped around five domains, which set out the high-level national outcomes that the NHS should be aiming to improve. The purpose of the NHSOF is to:
- provide a national overview of how well the NHS is performing;
- be the primary accountability mechanism, in conjunction with the mandate, between the Secretary of State for Health and NHS England (NHSE);
- improve quality throughout the NHS by encouraging a change in culture and behaviour focused on health outcomes – not process.
The NHSOF is updated annually (Department of Health 2014, The NHS Outcomes Framework 2015/16).