Summary
The NHS Commissioning Board is planning a small number of national networks to improve health services for specific patient groups or conditions. These strategic clinical networks will adopt the NHS network approach to improving the delivery of patient care.
Strategic Clinical Networks will be hosted and funded by the NHS Commissioning Board. They are to cover conditions and / or patient groups where improvements can be made through an integrated, whole system approach. The first Strategic Clinical Networks are to be:
- Cancer.
- Cardiovascular disease (including cardiac, stroke, diabetes and renal disease).
- Maternity and children’s services.
- Mental health, dementia and neurological conditions.
Strategic Clinical Networks are expected to help local NHS commissioners to reduce unwarranted variations in care services and to encourage innovation.
Reference
NHS Commissioning Board (2012). The way forward: strategic clinical networks. London: NHS Commissioning Board, July 26th 2012.
[A version of the above item appears in: Dementia: the Latest Evidence Newsletter (RWHT), Volume 3 Issue 1, August 2012].
Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) Master Plan (Neurological Alliance)
The Neurological Alliance’s “Navigating neurology services: helping strategic clinical networks to be a success story” report proposes a blueprint for strategic clinical networks (SCNs) for neurological conditions. It highlights eight priority areas.
Reference
Navigating neurology services: helping strategic clinical networks to be a success story. London: Neurological Alliance, September 2013.
