Health and Social Care Structures

Healthcare Improvement Scotland is the national healthcare improvement organisation for Scotland whose purpose is to ensure better quality health and social care for all in Scotland. HIS's has a broad work programme which supports health and social care services to improve.

One of 7 NHS Special Boards, National Services Scotland NHS (NSS) is a Non Departmental Public Body, accountable to Scottish Government, which provides national strategic support and advice services to the rest of NHS Scotland. This support is delivered through a number of Strategic Business Units.

One of 7 NHS Special Boards, National Services Scotland NHS (NSS) is a Non Departmental Public Body, accountable to Scottish Government, which provides national strategic support and advice services to the rest of NHS Scotland. It provides national strategic support services and advice to NHS Scotland in the delivery of services. This support is delivered through a number of Strategic Business Units.

A network of Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) within Scotland provide a purpose-built environment for patient-oriented research. They provide access to cutting-edge clinical facilities and opportunities for research scientists to work closely with clinical researchers, and support the advancement of new therapies and treatments for patients. Local delivery, development and governance of clinical research is achieved through regional nodes working within NHS Boards to provide support across Scotland.

NHSScotland consists of 14 regional NHS Boards (which are responsible for the protection and the improvement of their population’s health and for the delivery of frontline healthcare services), seven Special NHS Boards and one public health body which supporst the regional NHS Boards by providing a range of important specialist and national services.

Formerly the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) was established in 2005 and is the organisation that co-ordinates health protection in Scotland. It is part of Public Health Scotland. It plans and delivers effective and specialist national services which co-ordinate, strengthen and support activities aimed at protecting the people of Scotland from infectious and environmental hazards.