National Services--the role of the National Services Division of the Common Services Agency in commissioning specialist services on behalf of the NHS in Scotland

The National Services Division of the Common Services Agency provides a central function commissioning designated national services on behalf of the NHS in Scotland. Services are nationally designated and commissioned only where it would not be possible or sensible to do so on a more local basis because of the rarity of the condition, the need to concentrate expertise and/or to avoid duplication of expensive equipment. The Division also has important central functions in ensuring the effective delivery of national screening programmes and in facilitating the development of national managed clinical networks. The work programme of the Division is overseen by advisory bodies whose membership reflects the key stakeholders in the Scottish NHS. In discharging its role, the Division's aim is to work with clinicians and managers to ensure the delivery of high quality specialist clinical care and screening services in an equitable fashion to patients throughout Scotland.