Knowledge for Healthcare

Knowledge for Healthcare is the strategic framework for NHS funded Knowledge and Library Services in England. 

Published by Health Education England in December 2014, it sets the direction for the development of these services. 

Knowledge for Healthcare has been refreshed for the period 2021 – 2026.

Our shared ambition  

NHS bodies, their staff, learners, patients and the public use the right knowledge and evidence, at the right time, in the right place, enabling high quality decision-making, learning, research and innovation to achieve excellent healthcare and health improvement. 

5 key workstreams  

The national library and knowledge services team deliver the strategic vision through 5 main workstreams: 

Healthcare organisations, services and systems effectively mobilise evidence, learning, knowledge and ‘know-how‘ to enable evidence-based policy and practice. 

This workstream is led by Louise Goswami. 

Healthcare organisations, staff and learners receive quality assured, business-critical knowledge and library services.

This worksteam is led by Clare Edwards. 

Staff, learners, patients and the public are better equipped to use evidence-based patient, health and wellbeing information for shared decision-making and self–care.

This worksteam is led by Ruth Carlyle. 

Staff and learners make optimal use of high-quality knowledge resources and evidence at the point of need 

This workstream is led by Helen Bingham.  

The knowledge and library services workforce has increased capability, confidence and capacity to meet the evolving knowledge and information needs of the healthcare system 

This workstream is led by David Stewart.  

Our internal knowledge management service plays a key role as we develop our work to bring knowledge for healthcare and informing decision making across Health Education England.  

Our initiatives to lead the transformation of these business critical services are underpinned by a series of enabling functions. 

These include including our extensive work with partners and workstreams to:

  • optimise investment
  • build research capability
  • communicate and engage with stakeholders 

For general enquiries contact: knowledgeforhealthcare@hee.nhs.uk 

The Knowledge for Healthcare Board  

The Knowledge for Healthcare Board agrees policy, sets strategy and takes oversight of the development of NHS funded knowledge and library services in England: 

  •  Ensuring the use of evidence from research across the Service 
  •  Underpinning improvements in patient care and safety and outcomes 
  •  Maximising value for money; approving investment decisions 
  •  Enabling the development of a flexible NHS workforce that is open to innovation 

 

Patrick Mitchell, Director of Innovation and Transformation, Health Education England is The Senior Responsible Officer for Knowledge for Healthcare. 

 
Sue Lacey Bryant is the National Lead for NHS Library and Knowledge Services, Health Education England  

Terms of Reference 

Governance structure