Health Services

House of Lords written question – answered at on 24 October 2014.

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Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Shadow Spokesperson (Health), Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the nature of the relationship between Ministers, the Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group and NHS England in prescribing specialised services under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to change the scope of specialised services directly commissioned by NHS England.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the commissioning of specialised services by NHS England.

Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The Secretary of State for Health, in his Annual Assessment of National Health Service England’s Annual Report for the last financial year (2013-14), has stated that “[NHS England] must […] ensure that spending controls are effective, particularly around specialised commissioning.” A copy of the Secretary of State’s Annual Assessment has been placed in the library.

Section 3B(1)(d) of the National Health Service Act 2006, as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, gives the Secretary of State the power to require the NHS Commissioning Board (known as NHS England) to commission prescribed services or facilities in relation to England by making regulations. Using this power, the Secretary of State may require NHS England to commission specialised services for people with rare or very rare conditions. Before deciding whether to make regulations, the Secretary of State must (a) obtain appropriate advice for that purpose and (b) consult NHS England. The Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group (PSSAG) is a Department of Health appointed expert committee which was established in 2013 to provide the Secretary of State with this advice. NHS England commissions all the services listed in Schedule 4 of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012.

The scope of specialised services directly commissioned by NHS England is kept under review.

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