A Special Health Authority is a type of NHS Trust which provide services on behalf of the National Health Service in England^[1][2]. Unlike other types of Trust, the operate nationally rather than serve a specific geographical area.

They are a type of "arm's length body" of the Department of Health of the United Kingdom, along with executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)^[3]. Special Health Authorities are independent, but can be subject to ministerial direction like other NHS bodies.

Function

While Special Health Authorities may provide services direct to the public, most are concerned with improving the ability of other parts of the NHS to deliver effective health care.

Establishment

Special Health Authorities were set to provide a national service to the NHS or the public, under section 11 of the National Health Service Act 1977^[4][5][6]. Prior to the repeal of the whole of the 1977 Act by the NHS (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006, Special Health Authorities included both infrastructure support organisations and national/specialist treatment providers such as the Special Hospitals Service Authority and the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Special Health Authority. These direct clinical service providers were progressively merged with local NHS Trusts and consequently with mainstream governance and funding arrangements.

The support Special Health Authorities are now provided for under section 28 of the National Health Service Act 2006^[7][8][9].

NHS Special Health Authorities

• Information Centre for Health and Social Care
• National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
• National Patient Safety Agency
• National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse
• Mental Health Act Commission
• NHS Appointments Commission
• NHS Blood and Transplant
• NHS Business Services Authority
• NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
• NHS Litigation Authority
• NHS Professionals Special Health Authority
• Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) until c. 2010^[10]

Former NHS Special Health Authorities

• Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Special Health Authority
• Health Protection Agency
• Prescription Pricing Authority?
• NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service?
• NHS Dental Vocational Training Authority until April 2006; succeeded by the Committee of Postgraduate Deans and Directors
• NHS Direct until April 2008; converted to an NHS Trust
• NHS Information Authority until April 2005
• NHS Logistics until October 2006; joined forces with DHL to become NHS Supply Chain
• NHS Pensions Agency?
• Special Hospitals Service Authority

?Became part of the NHS Business Services Authority in April 2006)

References

1. ↑ NHS Choices - Authorities and trusts - Special health authorities
2. ↑ NHS Confederation - About Special Health Authorities
3. ↑ Arm's length bodies of the Department of Health
4. ↑ Office of Public Sector Information - National Health Service Act 1977 (pdf)
5. ↑ UK Statute Law Database - National Health Service Act 1977 (consolidated)
6. ↑ Office of Public Sector Information - National Health Service Act 1977 (consolidated)
7. ↑ Office of Public Sector Information - National Health Service Act 2006
8. ↑ Office of Public Sector Information - National Health Service Act 2006 (pdf)
9. ↑ UK Statute Law Database - National Health Service Act 2006
10. ↑ PMETB - Merger of PMETB with the GMC