SMASAC Working Group Post Polio Syndrome - Scottish Health On ...

Scottish Medicines and Scientific Advisory Committee Working Group
Post Polio Syndrome/Late Effects of Polio
individual responsible for long term conditions in the local CHP or equivalent,
to co-ordinate the provision of services, equipment and medication by NHS
and social services.
While having identified specialists with an interest in PPS will be of assistance
in guiding referral to those individuals, the lack of structure and identified aims
and objectives in an informal network is likely to mean that there will be little
influence over current service design and development, and change will
happen only slowly. Additionally, opportunities for sharing experience and
best practice are unlikely to be maximised.
3.3 Establishment of a formal Managed Clinical Network (MCN)
Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) were first introduced as a concept in the
Acute Services Review of June 1998 and this was followed by a Management
Executive Letter (MEL) (1999) 10, which defined MCNs as:
“linked groups of health professionals and organisations from primary,
secondary and tertiary care, working in a co-ordinated manner, unconstrained
by existing professional and health boundaries, to ensure equitable provision
of high quality clinically effective services throughout Scotland”.
MCNs have since developed for a number of patient groups, from those with
small numbers and very specific needs (such as home parenteral nutrition) to
more common, long-term conditions (such as stroke or diabetes). MCNs can
be organised on a national, regional or local basis, the main determinant
generally being patient numbers.
The common aim of MCNs is to facilitate the improvement and consistent,
equitable delivery of services to people whose condition means that they
require multi-disciplinary care which may involve primary, secondary and
tertiary services and a range of clinical and AHP specialties. They also give a
strong voice to patients and the voluntary sector organisations that support
them. All MCNs should operate according to a recognised evidence base,
and usually act as a vehicle for the development of standards, to promote
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