Sources of requests for national development support
Published on 03 May 2022
NSD receives directives or requests to explore proposals for new national designated specialist services or national networks from a variety of sources.
Scottish Government may decide on the need for a new service or network in alignment with a strategy or policy.
Requests for specialist services may be submitted by clinicians, with support from their NHS board. Individual NHS boards, regional planning groups or other national groups can also compile a proposal. Examples of submission types include:
- services that already exist to provide treatment for part of Scotland that proposers wish to extend to other areas
- new developments involving recently proven techniques
- services not currently available in Scotland for which patients have to travel to England or abroad
- gaps in current provision for which there is an established patient need.