NHS Special Health Authority

Special Health Authorities provide services on behalf of the British National Health Service (unlike other Health Authorities who serve a specific geographic area).

Special Health Authorities were set up to provide a national service to the NHS or the public, under Section 11 of the NHS Act 1977. Following the repeal of the whole of the 1977 Act by the NHS (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006, Special Health Authorities are now provided for under s.28 NHS Act 2006. The Special Health Authorities are independent, but can be subject to ministerial direction like other NHS bodies. They are another type of "arm's length body" for the Department of Health, along with executive agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs).

While some Special Health Authorities provide services direct to the public (eg. NHS Direct), many are concerned with improving the ability of other parts of the NHS to deliver effective health care.

NHS Special Health Authorities
and within the NHS Business Services Authority:
 * NHS Health Protection Agency
 * Mental Health Act Commission
 * National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
 * National Patient Safety Agency
 * National Treatment Agency
 * NHS Appointments Commission
 * NHS Blood and Transplant
 * NHS Direct
 * NHS Litigation Authority
 * NHS Professionals Special Health Authority
 * The NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre
 * The NHS Institute For Innovation and Improvement
 * NHS Business Services Authority
 * NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service from April 2006
 * NHS Pensions Agency from April 2006
 * Prescription Pricing Authority from April 2006

The NHS Dental Vocational Training Authority (DVTA) which was also an NHS Special Authority, closed in March 2006. In April 2006, all duties covered by the DVTA were taken over by The Committee of Postgraduate Deans and Directors (COPDenD).

In October 2006 NHS Logistics and DHL joined forces to become NHS Supply Chain. The contract is to last 10 years and is governed by the NHS Business Services Authority.