NHS boards and Integration Joint Boards must work with people when they are considering changes to health and care services. The Scottish Government and COSLA have produced national guidance which sets out the process that NHS boards and Integration Joint Boards should follow when they are involving people in decisions about local services.

In response to requests from colleagues in NHS boards and Integration Joint Boards which have already undertaken service change, we have developed an overview guide which describes the service change process under the following headings:

• planning
• engaging
• consulting
• decision making

The overview guide highlights the key elements and steps of the process and should be read in conjunction with the full Planning with People guidance.