NHS England to transform mental health care for military veterans across the country

Hundreds of military veterans are set to benefit from a nationwide scheme to tackle the most complex mental health needs of ex-armed forces personnel, launched today (Sunday 1 April) by NHS England.  Click here to read further.

NHS England announces new specialised treatments for patients

NHS England has announced the results of the first of two prioritisation rounds to decide which new specialised commissioning treatments and services will be made available for patients for the 2018/19 financial year.

An initial three new treatments and services were approved for funding including a treatment for HIV, a new specialised service for adults with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a genetic disorder affecting the respiratory system, and a new specialised service for Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a serious disorder of the skin.

Funding for the new treatments and services will begin from April.

Ignoring the alarms: how NHS eating disorder services are failing patients

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman - This report of an investigation that found that Averil Hart's death from anorexia would have been avoided if the NHS had cared for her appropriately. It highlights five areas of focus to improve eating disorder services. Click here to read further.

Handbook to support the identification of specialised service activity

The purpose of this document from NHS England is to provide guidance to health care providers and commissioner organisations to ensure identification of specialised/prescribed healthcare activities. 

List of prescribed specialised services directly commissioned by NHS England

A list of prescribed specialised services directly commissioned by NHS England as at April 2017.

How specialised services are transforming care

NHS England has launched a new animation about its specialised services.

The animation aims to build a greater understanding with patients and the public, clinicians and other stakeholders about the specialised services that NHS England commissions. The animation is supported by a brochure which explains in more detail about how specialised services are delivering cutting-edge car

NHS England specialised commissioning service development policy

The service development policy sets out NHS England’s approach for making decisions about which new treatments and interventions to routinely commission, and the approach used for updating existing service specifications, or creating new ones.

Spotlight on specialised services
This report provides an insight into some of the specialised services that are already being delivered and will continue to be rolled out over the coming years in the NHS.

Asfotase alfa for treating paediatric-onset hypophosphatasia - guidance (HST6)

New Highle Specialised Technologies Guidance from NICE on asfotase alfa (Strensiq) for treating paediatric-onset hypophosphatasia in adults and children.

Asfotase alfa is recommended as an option for treating paediatric-onset hypophosphatasia only:

• for people who meet the criteria for treatment within the managed access arrangement (see section 4.18), and
• for the duration of this arrangement and in line with the other conditions it specifies, and
• when the company provides asfotase alfa with the confidential commercial terms agreed with NHS England.

Eliglustat for treating type 1 Gaucher disease

Highly specialised technologies guidance from NICE.

Eliglustat is recommended within its marketing authorisation for treating type 1 Gaucher disease, that is, for long-term treatment in adults who are cytochrome P450 2D6 poor, intermediate or extensive metabolisers. Eliglustat is only recommended when the company provides it with the discount agreed in the patient access scheme

NHS commissioning of specialised services

This briefing from the House of Commons Library looks at the commissioning of specialised services by the NHS in England, for patients with rare or complex conditions. How the commissioning process works is set out in further detail, as well as analysis of the financial management and transparency of specialised commissioning, and recent reforms introduced by NICE and NHS England, including reforms to the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Patients with rare conditions to benefit from new treatments

NHS England hasconfirmed that three new specialised treatments will be made available for patients in England.

• Second allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplants – estimated to cover around 15 patients a year who suffer a relapse following a first transplant.
• Eculizumab for the treatment of the kidney condition C3 glomerulopathy – which includes C3 glomerulonephritis and dense deposit disease – estimated to benefit up to 5 patients a year who suffer a relapse following a kidney transplant.
• Riociguat for pulmonary arterial hypertension – estimated to benefit around 90-125 patients a year for whom other treatments have failed, subject to confirmation of a commercially in confidence discounted price offered by the manufacturer.

New specialised commissioning consultation launched

NHS England has launched a consultation on four related policies that describe how NHS England will make decisions on funding for treatments that are not currently routinely commissioned. The four policies are: in-year service developments, individual funding requests, funding experimental and unproven treatments, and continuing funding after clinical trials.

Inspiring women in recovery: how one trust is changing lives through the Women's Institute

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) has established the first recovery-focused Women’s Institute to meet within an NHS setting, and welcome women from its services, staff and the community to come together in a supportive environment.

Tailored end-of-life care training

A case study from NHS Employers outlines how the palliative care and end-of-life care specialists at Leeds Teaching Hospitals offered bespoke departmental teaching and focused interventions to improve care within specific clinical areas.

Staff at the trust reported an improvement in their skills and confidence in symptom management, facilitating end-of-life care at home, recognising end of life, and knowledge of community services. 

NICE standards for motor neurone disease can help physios plan better care

New quality standards for the treatment of motor neurone disease could give physios evidence to support service development, according to respiratory physio Ema Swingwood.

Ataluren for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy with a nonsense mutation in the dystrophin gene

Evidence-based recommendations on ataluren (Translarna) for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy with a nonsense mutation in the dystrophin gene in people aged 5 years and older who can walk.

NHS England announces provisional investment decisions for specialised services

NHS England has set out the results of its annual process for deciding which new treatments and services it will make available to patients.

Manual for prescribed specialised services 2016/17

NHS England has published a revised version of the manual for prescribed specialised services, the technical document that sets out what NHS England and what CCGs commission in respect of specialised services.

The document has been updated to reflect services where commissioning responsibility has transferred from NHS England to CCGs and vice versa. A number of areas have also been clarified following feedback from stakeholders.