Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of those specialised services that are classified as highly specialised.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

All highly specialised services are commissioned nationally by NHS England. The list of specialised services currently commissioned by NHS England is available on the NHS England website, in the worksheet entitled Service Code, with column F indicating whether the service is classified as a highly specialised, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/

Further information on each of the services is available on the NHS England website via the Prescribed Specialised Services Manual, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PRN00115-prescribed-specialised-services-manual-v6.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list all the highly specialised services that are currently commissioned nationally by NHS England.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

All highly specialised services are commissioned nationally by NHS England. The list of specialised services currently commissioned by NHS England is available on the NHS England website, in the worksheet entitled Service Code, with column F indicating whether the service is classified as a highly specialised, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/

Further information on each of the services is available on the NHS England website via the Prescribed Specialised Services Manual, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PRN00115-prescribed-specialised-services-manual-v6.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the merits of highly specialised services being commissioned directly by individual hospital trusts.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In preparation for the merger of the Department and NHS England and the integration of their functions under one organisation, and alongside the 10 Year Plan's ambitions to establish integrated care boards as strategic commissioners of local health services that are responsible for all but the most specialised commissioning, the NHS England Executive is undertaking a review of all of its commissioning functions to make recommendations on the most appropriate future arrangements. This work is ongoing and includes consideration of highly specialised services and the need to commission these services at the most appropriate scale in the future, in accordance with the Government’s ambitions in this area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list all the highly specialised services that are currently commissioned (a) regionally and (b) locally by NHS England.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Highly specialised services are commissioned by NHS England as part of its responsibilities for prescribed specialised services. This function is undertaken by NHS England’s national highly specialised services team which is supported by regional commissioners covering each area of the country. The responsibility for highly specialised services has not been delegated to integrated care boards as part of the programme of delegation of specialised services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a full list of specialised services currently commissioned by NHS England.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The list of specialised services currently commissioned by NHS England is available on the NHS England website, in the worksheet entitled Service Code, with column M indicating whether the service is commissioned by NHS England or an integrated care board (ICB), with the word GREEN indicating an ICB and RED indicating NHS England, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/

Further information on each of the services is available on the NHS England website via the Prescribed Specialised Services Manual, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PRN00115-prescribed-specialised-services-manual-v6.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of which highly specialised services will no longer be commissioned nationally after the abolition of NHS England and will instead be commissioned (a) regionally and (b) locally.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities, including specialised commissioning.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. These ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate, and associated announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list which highly specialised services will continue to be commissioned nationally after the abolition of NHS England.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities, including specialised commissioning.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. These ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate, and associated announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how highly specialised services will be commissioned nationally following the abolition of NHS England.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities, including specialised commissioning.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. These ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate, and associated announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure national-level (a) strategic planning and 9b) quality assurance for highly specialised services following the abolition of NHS England.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities, including specialised commissioning.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. These ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate, and associated announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that highly specialised national services for patients with (a) rare diseases and (b) complex surgical needs will continue to be (i) commissioned and (ii) managed at a national level following the abolition of NHS England.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Working under the ‘UK Rare Diseases Framework’, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases.

Ministers and senior DHSC officials are working with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. Whilst this transformation takes place, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds and will work collaboratively to put plans in place to ensure continuity of care and that there are no risks to patient safety.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help protect the (a) National Centre for Pancreas Transplantation and (b) the national service for inherited DNA repair disorders from local budgetary pressures.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Pancreas transplantation in England is nationally commissioned by NHS England as a highly specialised service from six National Health Service trusts. It is a retained service and continues to be commissioned directly by NHS England rather than delegated to integrated care boards due to its complexity, low patient numbers, and the need for consistent national standards. As such, pancreas transplantation is funded directly by NHS England through national specialised commissioning arrangements, with funding managed through NHS England’s regional teams, with national oversight. This helps to ensure that highly specialised services are not impacted by variations in local funding decisions.

The national service for DNA Repair Disorders at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is commissioned by NHS England as a highly specialised service. It is also a retained service due to its complexity, low patient numbers, and the need for consistent national standards. As such, the DNA Repair Disorders Service is also funded directly by NHS England through national specialised commissioning arrangements, with funding managed through NHS England’s regional team, with national oversight, to help ensure that highly specialised services are not impacted by variations in local funding decisions.

Found: In response to Ben Coleman MP on what can be done without new funding We thank Mr Coleman for his question

Found: Ben Coleman: I see Sally nodding vigorously. Maybe she could come in.

Found: Ben Coleman: I see Sally nodding vigorously. Maybe she could come in.

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The Committee is holding an inquiry into food and weight management, including treatments for obesity.