NHS Business Services Authority

NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom. It provides a range of critical central services to National Health Service (NHS) organisations, NHS contractors, patients and the public.

History

The NHS Business Services Authority was established on 1 October 2005. It brought together five NHS business support organisations into one authority, with the aim of providing more efficient and improved business support services to the NHS and NHS patients.

Services

The NHSBSA provides a number of key services to the NHS and the public. These include:

• NHS Prescription Services: This is responsible for reimbursing NHS community pharmacies and appliance contractors for the services they provide on behalf of the NHS. It also provides the NHS with a range of prescribing data to support the management and planning of NHS services.

• NHS Dental Services: This manages payments to dentists for NHS dental work and provides the NHS with dental data to support the management and planning of NHS dental services.

• NHS Pensions: This administers the NHS Pension Scheme and NHS Injury Benefits Scheme for the UK.

• NHS Student Bursaries: This administers bursaries to healthcare students on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): This provides the EHIC, which gives UK residents access to state-provided healthcare when visiting other European Economic Area countries and Switzerland.

Governance

The NHSBSA is governed by a board of non-executive and executive directors. The board is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of the organisation.

See also

• National Health Service
• Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS Prescription Services
• NHS Dental Services
• NHS Pensions
• NHS Student Bursaries
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)