The Managed Service Network for Neurosurgery was established in 2009 following the recommendations of the Neuroscience Implementation Group and was awarded national service designation in 2014. The National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) recommended that funding for the MSN should continue and the Cabinet Secretary approved this recommendation. The MSN continues to report to the Chief Medical Office on an annual basis.
The Network sits below the MSN Board, and reports to the Scottish government. Our governance structure is illustrated below:
The first challenge for the Network was to develop and agree evidence based national standards for neurosurgery, this was published in September 2010, and refreshed in 2023. The standards provide a framework of auditable measures which will ensure that wherever a patient is treated in Scotland, the access to care and calibre of service will be similar and of the best possible quality.
The Standards can be found below: