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SAG Terms of Reference

Introduction

The NHS Wales Standards and Architecture Group (SAG) provides strategic direction, guidance, and oversight for the development, implementation, and maintenance of architectural frameworks and standards across NHS Wales. SAG is the national body with the authority to approve national architecture principles, standards, and decisions.

Objectives

  • Discuss, agree, and approve national architecture principles, standards, and decisions for adoption across NHS Wales.
  • Commission and oversee working groups and task and finish groups to develop standards and architecture artefacts on its behalf.
  • Provide an escalation route for issues raised by its working groups.
  • Ensure that national architecture and standards align with Health and Care policy and strategy.

Working Groups

SAG is supported by working groups that develop and recommend standards for approval. For example, the Wales Interoperability Standards Working Group:

  • Discusses and agrees Health and Care interoperability standards for Wales (e.g. HL7 FHIR), collaborating with clinical, technical, and information standards subject matter experts.
  • Reports directly to SAG, with one of its co-chairs representing the group at SAG meetings as an advisory, non-voting member.

Governance

Organisations across NHS Wales - for example DHCW through its Technical Design Authority - adopt SAG-approved national principles and standards, supplementing them with their own local rationale, implications, and governance.