From the 1st July 2010 an assessment of design quality will become part of the business case approval process. This guidance should be viewed as part of the Scottish Capital Investment Manual (SCIM) notified through NHS CEL 19 (2009).
This guidance describes:
• how design standards should be established for projects,
• the Board's role in assessing progress in achieving design standards ,
• the design assessment process,
• submission requirements at each business case stage.
The Scottish Government Health Directorates' purpose in developing and implementing this process is to ensure that the outcomes of development projects meet the Government's objectives and expectations for public investment. Mapping design into the business case is intended to improve the level of design quality achieved across NHSScotland and the outcomes realised through this. The process described aims to promote a culture of continuous improvement by facilitating learning from, and projects that build upon, the best of what has gone before.
Although the full process described below, and the requirement to refer projects to the NHSScotland Design Assessment Process, applies only to projects that are to be considered by Capital Investment Group (CIG), it is intended and expected that Boards will develop 'design statements' and utilise the self assessment methodologies described below on all development projects.