Health and Social Care Structures

A service brand of National Services Scotland, the National Services Division undertakes the planning, commissioning and coordination of high-quality, person-centred specialist services, networks and screening programmes for the population.

A service brand of of National Services Scotland, National Procurement & Logistics undertakes buying and supplying items for Scotland's hospitals and health centres. Its remit also includes the Health Innovation Assessment Portal  (HIAP) where innovators can submit their innovation and have it assessed.  

A service brand of National Services Scotland, Digital and Security operates as a centre of excellence for digital, security, data and technology, collaborating within NHSScotland and the public sector.

A Strategic Business Unit of National Services Scotland, Health Facilities Scotland provides operational guidance on a range of healthcare facilities topics. It delivers and co-ordinates advice and support in relation to national facilities, decontamination and equipping and technical matters which support and improve health and well-being services.

Part of National Services Scotland, Counter Fraud Services works with NHSScotland to reduce the risk of fraud and corruption and reducing the cost of incorrect payment exemption claims. It is also responsible for checking patient exemptions in respect of NHSScotland patient charges and collecting payments for incorrectly claimed exemptions

Central Legal Office is a strategic business unit within National Services Scotland, providing expert legal advice across many aspects of the law and offering an in-house lawyer service to clients across the NHS and wider public sector..

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 6 Strategic Business Units (SBUs) covering Blood, Tissues and Cells; IT; Procurement, Commissioning and Facilities; Public Health and Intelligence; Practitioner and Counter Fraud Services and Central Legal Office.

One of 7 Special NHS Boards, the State Hospitals Board for Scotland provides assessment, treatment and care in conditions of special security for individuals with a mental disorder whom because of their dangerous, violent or criminal propensities, cannot be cared for in any other setting.

One of 7 NHS Special Boards, The Scottish Ambulance Service is on the frontline of the NHS, despatching immediate medical assistance or clinical advice to over 5 million people across Scotland.Responding to almost 600,000 accident and emergency calls and taking 1.6 million patients to and from hospital each year.

One of 7 NHS Special Boards, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is responsible for developing and delivering healthcare education and training for the NHS, health and social care sector and other public bodies. NES has a Scotland-wide role in undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development.
It is responsible for the National Digital Platform and the Knowledge Network (see separate entries).