Writing a Business Case
A business case is the document that supports the proposals for a new service development or capital project such as the transfer of services to the community, a bid to provide new services or to purchase new services.
Writing up your Business Case
A business case should be a clear and concise document containing section headings, sub-headings and numbered paragraphs to enable the reader to pinpoint specific text. Detailed supporting information should be relegated to the appendix. Avoid jargon and highly technical language and provide a clear explanation or glossary for clinical or professional terminology.
Consideration of the following questions can act as a quick checklist to ensure that the proposal is worth doing and achievable:
- Is the need clearly stated?
- Does the proposal contribute to the achievement of NHS policy and priorities and Trust objectives and plans?
- Are the benefits clearly stated?
- Is it clear how the benefits will be realised?
- Are the demand and capacity and income forecasts robust?
- Are the capital and revenue costs robust?
- Is it clear why the preferred option has been selected?
- Is it affordable?
- Are the risks and plans to mitigate against them explicitly stated?
- Do the main stakeholders support it?
- Does the team have the capacity and capability to deliver it?
For more information and helpful templates, you can find our ‘Writing a Business Case for Dermatology Services’ guide at the top of this page.
Approval of Your Business Plan
The scale and nature of your proposal will determine the route of approval. If it is affordable within the Directorate budget, the General Manager may be prepared to agree the proposal.
However, larger, more complex cases that require capital or revenue investment are likely to need Executive level approval. Meeting dates and deadlines for papers can then be used to determine the process and timescale for developing the business case.
Resources for Writing a Business Case
The complexity of the case will determine who will need to be involved in making your business case, support from the line manager is essential and help from information analysts, finance, estates and planning staff may be required. The HFMA’s introductory guide to NHS finance is a comprehensive guide of how the NHS finance regime works, as well as the wider landscape in which it operates.
Writing a Business Case for Dermatology Services
SWOT Analysis Guidance for Dermatology Services
