Governance

What clinical and shared governance means

In the past, NHS governance was focused on management control. Governance has now shifted towards:

• clinical governance,

and

• shared governance

These approaches mean that frontline staff have more influence in decisions. They aim to:

• strengthen accountability
• value professional judgement
• improve teamwork
• reduce the gap between managers and staff

Why it matters

Clinical and shared governance are key to staff empowerment and high‑quality care.

Research shows that when staff feel involved, trusted, and able to make decisions, then outcomes improve for patients and for staff.

When staff lack autonomy, there is a higher risk of:

• burnout
• stress
• dissatisfaction
• staff leaving

The Scottish Government’s Blueprint for Good Governance outlines the components of an effective governance system that could be adopted across NHS Scotland.

EiC’s approach to governance

The EiC framework promotes governance that:

• values staff views at all levels
• links governance with:
• positive workplace culture
• staff wellbeing

This supports:

• a more empowered workforce
• consistently high‑quality care

Healthcare Improvement Scotland provides more details on clinical governance.