Care for rare and complex health conditions
Specialised services provide NHS care and treatment for people with rare, complex, or highly specialised health conditions. Specialist teams deliver these services in regional or national centres because they require advanced expertise, specialist equipment, and dedicated facilities.
Examples include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis, genetic services, and treatment for rare cancers. These treatments are not available in every hospital, so specialist centres provide them to ensure safe and effective care.
Nationally, around 150 services are defined in this way. The NHS classifies them based on how many people need them, the cost of providing them, and the level of expertise required.
Who commissions specialised services
NHS England has traditionally commissioned these services nationally. However, NHS Essex and other Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are now taking responsibility for some services. This supports better integration between hospitals, community services, and specialist providers.
NHS England continues to commission highly specialised care. At the same time, NHS Essex commissions other services locally to improve care coordination and ensure services reflect local population needs.
Learn more about how the NHS is structuredAccess to specialist treatment in Essex
NHS Essex works with NHS England and specialist providers to ensure residents can access appropriate specialist treatment when needed.
Depending on the service, commissioning arrangements may be:
- commissioned by NHS England
- jointly commissioned
- commissioned by NHS Essex
This approach helps ensure residents receive high-quality, safe, and coordinated care.
What this means for patients
If you need specialist care, your GP or hospital consultant will refer you to an appropriate specialist centre. Your care will follow national clinical standards and service specifications.
NHS Essex works closely with partners to ensure care is accessible, effective, and joined up across services. This helps improve patient experience and health outcomes.
You can also explore our pages on continuing healthcare and personal health budgets for related support.