Question reference: S4W-21180
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 15 May 2014
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Current status: Answered by Alex Neil on 2 June 2014
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for the commissioning of NHS highly-specialised services.
Answer
In Scotland highly specialised health services are commissioned through the National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland. Highly specialised services needed by residents of Scotland are provided in Scotland or England and in very rare cases, abroad.
Applications for designation to become a nationally commissioned service in Scotland are considered by the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) which is currently chaired by the chair of the NHS board chief executive group and which comprises representatives of each territorial NHS board in Scotland.
NSSC’s decisions are informed through a robust advisory structure, co-ordinated by the National Professional Patient and Public Reference Group which draws on expertise from existing professional, patient and public groups.