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The Review Group, headed by Scotland's former Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir David Carter, investigates how the NHS commissions specialised services and makes proposals for improvement. Specialised services are those services where the planning population is greater than a million; they range from bone marrow and kidney transplants to secure forensic mental health services.

The primary purpose of this review is to propose improvements to commissioning arrangements for specialised services in England. The review recommends changes to structure, organisation and powers that will ensure the commissioning process is robust and fair, is understood by all, engages patients and offers optimal value for money. Realisation of the full potential of the system reforms will depend critically on providing commissioners of the future with the essential levers and tools for success.

This is an independent review and should not be considered as Departmental guidance. The Department will be considering how to address the review's recommendations in the forthcoming commissioning framework to be published by the Department in summer 2006.