Capturing Opportunity

1. Progress to Date Initial administration costs for the Managed Clinical Network have kindly been made available through the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Cymru Wales Neurology Subgroup. The Network has built upon the existing infrastructure of the Wales Epilepsy Research Network (WERN). Seventy members have so far registered their interest in the MCN, from a range of professions and Health Boards. The Network has developed in parallel with, and gained momentum from, the Cardiff CCM Demonstrator. What is a Managed Clinical Network? Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) are: “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 Board boundaries, to ensure equitable provision of high quality clinically effective services”. A MCN for Epilepsy in Wales The aim of the Network is to coordinate and facilitate the work of epilepsy professionals in Wales, promoting adherence to national guidelines, and building efficient and effective epilepsy care. • The MCN should improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy by: • Capturing the opportunities of the Wales NHS’s change to integrated care • Encouraging efficient and effective services, in the most suitable setting • Reducing harm, waste and variation in epilepsy service delivery • Empowering patients with epilepsy by equipping them to be full participants in determining their care • The MCN is All-Wales, for both adults and children, and for learning disabled and non learning disabled. • The MCN is largely a ‘virtual’ organisation. There will be relatively few actual meetings and most communication will be by email. Capturing Opportunity The epilepsy MCN is a prime example of capturing the opportunity of the newly integrated NHS, in that it brings together epilepsy clinicians and services in primary, secondary and tertiary care. We hope that all Health Boards will support the Managed Clinical Network in its endeavours to drive the continuous improvement of care in line with the SDD. The ability to describe and monitor existing services is an essential prerequisite to improvement. Health Boards can play an important role by defining their existing designated services for people with epilepsy, in collaboration with the MCN. This will allow assessment of services to ensure they are provided to a comparable level across Wales. A Managed Clinical Network for epilepsy in Wales should play an important role in ensuring that quality services are provided equitably across Wales. We hope that you will be keen to participate and make the MCN a success. Acknowledgements: Our collective thanks to everyone who has shown support for a Managed Clinical Network for epilepsy in Wales. We look forward to working with you.