Shared decision making

Overview

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health formally endorsed NICE's guideline on shared decision making on 23 May 2022. In adherence to the regional chief medical officer directive (reference HSC [SQSD] 13/22), the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) was required to agree a clinical management lead to coordinate implementation and consider what must be done to achieve this within 12 months of regional endorsement.

Following the presentation of a project proposal paper in February 2023, the trust's senior leadership team agreed that this work was to be recognised as a corporate priority workstream for 2024/25. In June 2023, an SHSCT shared decision making (SDM) steering group was established, with senior leaders across the health and care professions appointed as co-chairpersons. Suitable governance and reporting arrangements were put in place alongside a comprehensive project work plan. Together, these mechanisms have strengthened the positive culture of SDM within the organisation, thereby ensuring people are adequately supported to make informed decisions about their treatment and care.