Description

Specialised services are broadly defined as services
that are characterised as low volume and high cost.
These services are provided in relatively few specialist
centres to catchment populations of more than a
million people covering more than a single Primary
Care Trust (PCT). Specialised services
commissioning refers to the arrangements established
for collective commissioning of these specialised
services. As the number of people requiring these
services is relatively small, a critical mass is required
in treatment centres to achieve the best outcome, and
maintain clinical skills, ensure cost effectiveness and
high quality provision of care.
Public health has a key role to play in specialised
services commissioning but quite often this role is not
clearly understood by commissioning colleagues and
even public health specialists. This paper therefore
aims to describe the areas where public health
specialists can contribute to ensuring that there is a
consistent approach to the relationship between cost,
quality and outcome.