Service reviews

Our service reviews look at whether NHS trusts throughout England are delivering high-quality care and treatment to patients and achieving value for money.

Each review focuses on a different area of healthcare, chosen because it is of national importance and provides scope for improvement. We assess the trusts taking part by measuring their performance against national government standards and on issues of particular importance to patients, the public and those delivering healthcare services.

A trust’s score in a service review does not affect its overall rating in the annual health check results that we publish in October. However, we publish the review scores at the same time, so that local communities can find out about the quality of specific types of healthcare available to them.  Equally importantly, it provides a national benchmark against which each trust can compare its performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Methodology

When designing a service review we use one of two methodologies – either that of an improvement review or that of an acute hospital portfolio (AHP) review.

Service reviews using improvement review methodology

Service reviews using AHP methodology

Following up the 2005/2006 Joint Review of Community Mental Health Services

Older people’s mental health: Assessment of needs and services

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