Website of the Department of Health

Essence of Care: benchmarks for promoting health

This new benchmark provides a framework for shifting the focus from treating ill health to ensuring promoting healthier life choices is firmly embedded in all good patient care.

It is intended to be part of the Essence of Care toolkit for benchmarking the fundamentals of care. This includes the background to Essence of Care, a description of the benchmarking tool, how to use the benchmarks and record forms for developing action and business plans. Nine sets of benchmarks are also included. It is intended that health and social care personnels use this document to address issues of concern within their areas of work and to improve services already provided.

• Download Essence of Care: benchmarks for promoting health (PDF, 72K)