Shaping the future of specialised services

Patients, clinicians and other key stakeholders are being encouraged to give their views on the future of specialised health services, and how they are to be provided by the NHS over the next five years.

NHS England is inviting patients, patient groups, commissioners, clinicians and others to a scoping event on Monday 9 December in London as part of its wider ‘Call to Action’ project, which was launched in July, signaling the start of an open and honest debate with the public about the future delivery of NHS services.

Specialised services are those services provided from relatively few specialist centres. Conditions treated range from long-term conditions, such as renal, mental health care in secure settings and neonatal services, to rarer conditions such as uncommon cancers, burn care, medical genetics, specialised services for children and cardiac surgery.

They are commissioned nationally through 10 of NHS England’s 27 area teams and account for around £11.8billion of annual spending, or around 10 per cent of the overall NHS budget.

Feedback from the December scoping event, which is being delivered in partnership with the Specialised Healthcare Alliance, working alongside other key stakeholders, will inform the development of a five year strategy outlining how specialised services are best provided to improve patient experience and outcomes, against a backdrop of financial challenges and rising demand.

Places at the event are limited. To apply for a place at the event email dorothy.chen@shca.info.

All those who wish to contribute their views, but cannot attend the event, or fail to secure a place, will have opportunity to provide a written submission. Details of how to do this will be published on the NHS England and Specialised Healthcare Alliance websites shortly.