Consultations by Specialised Services Commissioners

01 July 2007

Within our communities there are small numbers of people with long term medical conditions or specialised health needs who need services that are more complex than those received by the majority of patients. Because of the numbers of patients involved, these services have to be commissioned and provided in a different way to other health services. However, specialised services should comply with the same principles and values as other parts of our national health service, involving patients and the public to make sure that services meet uniform standards, and encouraging overview and scrutiny committees to scrutinise, and where necessary challenge, the commissioners of services.

The framework for commissioning specialised services has recently changed as a result of a comprehensive review. This guide aims to clarify the new framework and help Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and staff within Specialised Commissioning Groups to develop effective relationships aimed at ensuring quality and equity for patients using specialised services.

The purpose of this guide is to provide practical advice to health overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) and commissioners of specialised services about how OSCs can best be engaged in and consulted on arrangements for commissioning and providing specialised services. The guide may also help OSCs to identify how they might tackle proposals for substantial variations to other services that are commissioned on a collective basis by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).