Commissioning National Developments

For over 30 years, National Services Directorate has commissioned specialist health services and national networks. These ensure that patients who need access to highest possible standards of care, whether that’s treatment or investigation of a very specialist nature, regardless of where they live in Scotland. We are a diverse team of programme management and commissioning experts including clinical and public health, all working within the governance of NHS Scotland. We are committed to delivering a ‘once for Scotland’ approach that:

• Reduces variation and duplication
• Drives consistency
• Fosters a clinical focus
• Ensures patients are at the centre of all decisions of their care
• Assures equity of services for all
• Works with internal and external stakeholders
• Offers value for money

Commissioning involves working with the service provider to set a service specification, agree the activity profile, staffing, and resources required whilst being assured in terms of monitoring both the clinical outcomes and patient experience within a service; usually through the production and publication of an annual performance report for the service.

Learn about our Specialist Services

From clinicians to third sector representatives, policy makers to programme managers, National Networks each bring together the bespoke expertise to design care, operating on a national level, and navigating professional and organisational boundaries to support Scottish Government policy. Networks make sure that patients and their families have equitable access to the highest standards of care, regardless of where they live in Scotland.

Learn about our National Networks

Learn about National Planning