MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS
Vision or mission? What is the difference? To quote Charlie Elsey, writing in Freepint in 2002: “vision is aspirational, mission is perspirational!”1 A Mission Statement is a simple statement of purpose, understood by every member of the team. It is clear and concise and provides clarity about the primary objective for which resources are used, and programmes and plans developed. It is a definition of “why” the organization/services currently exist. It provides direction; it does not set out measurable goals. For brief, readable thoughts on writing a mission statement see Marketing: Mission by Sheila Webber at: http://dis.shef.ac.uk/sheila/marketing/mission.htm A Vision Statement expresses the destination of the team. A “future” vision; it gives shape and direction to service development by painting an ideal picture, stating what the service aspires to become, and stretching the organization’s capabilities and image of itself. A positive statement; it pushes towards future goals and achievements, defining what will be pursued not how it will be achieved.
Examples from primary care
Amber Valley PCT Mission statement Knowledge Services exists to support the provision of high quality healthcare in the Southern Derbyshire non-acute sector, by enabling access to the knowledge base of healthcare and by facilitating its effective use. The service must be available as a right to all staff working within the non-acute healthcare community, and must be free at the point of use. The service and resources should reflect the multidisciplinary nature of healthcare and support the ongoing personal development of staff by forming part of a comprehensive learning resource. Richard Wilson, Knowledge Services, Babington Hospital Leeds PCTs Mission statement To enable improvements in patient care, through the provision of a high quality and responsive library and knowledge service supporting all Leeds PCT staff. Helen Thompson, Librarian, Leeds PCTs Health Informatics Service Library
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Leeds PCTs Vision To provide easy and equitable access for all Leeds PCT staff to current, relevant, and accredited knowledge in order to confirm, challenge or change practice, to support personal, professional and organisational development as a prerequisite to high quality patient care. Helen Thompson, Librarian, Leeds PCTs Health Informatics Service Library East Lancashire PCTs' Library Vision: To provide all staff of the three East Lancashire Primary Care Trusts with easy access to a high quality library and information service, in order to support evidence-based health care, clinical governance, continuing professional development, lifelong learning and, ultimately, patient care. Liz Walton, East Lancashire Public Health Network Islington PCT Knowledge Centre Vision The vision of the Islington PCT Knowledge Centre is to provide a proactive knowledge service that focuses on Islington PCT's objectives and priorities, and turns information into intelligence to support evidence based clinical and policy decision making, leading to improved patient care. Mandy Guest, Islington PCT Knowledge Centre
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