NSS began operations on 1 April 1974 as the
Common Services Agency, formed in accordance with The National Health Service (Functions of the Common Services Agency) (Scotland) Order 1974. The agency's mandate was to provide national strategic support services and expert advice to Scotland's health sector while maximising health impacts and cost savings. This remains central to NSS's purpose today. The UK
Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Common Services Agency in a 2014 legal ruling,
Healthcare at Home Limited v. The Common Services Agency. An unsuccessful tenderer had challenged the agency's
contract award decision. In the course of the court's deliberations over the legal issues,
Lord Reed spoke at some length of the various hypothetical persons whose judgment is held to be indicative of the assessment that a reasonable person might make, typically called the
Man on the Clapham omnibus. The Court held that there was a long tradition in law of considering such hypothetical judgments, and rejected the need to consider the evidence of any actual witnesses in place of the hypothetical reasonable person. In 2013, the Public Services Reform (Functions of the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service) (Scotland) Order 2013 extended the remit of NSS, enabling the provision of services to other bodies, including local authorities and government departments. The following year, the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014 reinforced this requirement to maximise health, financial, and environmental impacts by engaging with and offering services to the wider public sector in Scotland. NSS operated across the whole of Scotland, providing a wide range of national services and managing one-third of the NHSScotland budget. It had twelve national services aimed at supporting the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland: •
Digital and Security: Focusing on the delivery and management of national digital platforms, cyber security, and supporting services. It was responsible for providing clinical informatics to NHSScotland, and ensuring information security and governance through innovative and scalable technology. •
National Contact Centre: NSS’s National Contact Centre provided call centre services including vaccination appointment booking, rescheduling, and providing advice to help individuals access health and care services. •
Primary Care Support: This NSS service supported general practitioners, dentists, opticians, community pharmacies, and dispensing contractors in delivering primary care across Scotland. It managed contractor payments, maintained an up-to-date patient registration database, handles medical record transfers, and oversees clinical governance for dental services. •
Specialist Healthcare Commissioning: This service commissioned a range of specialist and rare condition treatments, and strategic networks focusing on specific population health requirements. It ensuresedequitable and affordable access to these services when needed. •
Population Screening: Responsible for the oversight, quality assurance, and coordination at a national level of Scotland’s six population screening programmes. •
Legal: The Central Legal Office (CLO) provided specialist legal advice and assistance in most areas of law relevant to the public sector to NHSScotland. It provided clients with a comprehensive legal service and counsels them on a wide range of policy issues. •
Programme Management: This service acted as a national delivery provider, offering total solutions in portfolio, programme, project management, and transformation services. It supports the delivery of complex and challenging change programmes. •
National Procurement: Provided strategic sourcing and national procurement services to NHSScotland. It worked collaboratively to provide best quality, fit-for-purpose, and best value commercial solutions. It also provided expert logistics services, including distribution, supply chain, warehouse operations, fleet management, and national eProcurement solutions. •
Fraud Prevention: This service worked in partnership across NHSScotland and the wider Scottish public sector to reduce the risk of fraud and corruption. It was responsible for checking patient exemptions in respect of NHSScotland patient charges and collecting payments for incorrectly claimed exemptions. •
Blood, Tissues and Cells: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) provideed blood, tissues, and cells to NHSScotland. It ensured 24/7 blood supply and availability and offers specialist treatment and therapeutic solutions, along with specialist testing and diagnostic services. •
Corporate Shared Services: This growing service provided corporate services in areas such as finance, HR, digital, facilities, procurement, and business support to other health boards. As of 2024, it managed payroll for eight NHSScotland boards and delivers a full corporate shared services solution for Public Health Scotland. •
NHSScotland Assure: Launched in 2020, this service delivered a coordinated approach to improving risk management and quality in the healthcare built environment across NHSScotland. It included services provided by Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland and Health Facilities Scotland. == Public Services Delivery Scotland ==