The Communications and Engagement Strategy includes key principles for communications, what staff, patients and the public can expect from NHS Tayside, and how we aim to continuously improve and measure success.
There is also a summary document 'How we communicate and engage: A blueprint for Tayside Together' as well as a Year One Action Plan with key priorities for 2026/27.
The strategy was developed following a year of insight gathering from staff, patients and their families, and local communities, and the feedback and input has directly helped to shape this approach.
Transparent, accessible and proactive communications is crucial to strengthen staff and public confidence and ensure all stakeholders are well informed and able to influence how we communicate and engage. Our approach to communications and engagement supports our values by making sure people feel informed, included, respected and heard.
Our Core Principles
Our communications and engagement approach is built upon five core principles:
1. Openness and transparency to foster trust
We will proactively share clear, timely information to build public confidence. We are the single credible, trusted source.
2. Staff and communities shaping next steps
Ensuring lived experience and staff expertise directly influence service design. All voices matter.
3. Long-term dialogue and engagement
We will foster meaningful, long-term connections with our communities and partners. Not ‘once and done’ – we will keep asking and keep answering.
4. Holding ourselves accountable to do what we say we will do
We will demonstrate evidence of how stakeholder feedback results in tangible service improvements. You said, we did – is it good enough? Is it still the right thing? Can you help us make it better?
5. Excellence in reputation through our people
We will position NHS Tayside as a leading employer and provider of clinical excellence through real people and their stories of excellent service delivery. Our staff and services help do the talking for us.
How we communicate and engage
NHS Tayside's Communications and Engagement Strategy 2026-2029 sets out the organisation's vision for communications and engagement over the next three years.