Network Working Groups
The Network working groups drive forward our work plan, ensuring the completion of objectives in keeping with the strategy of the Network, as agreed by the Scottish Government and Provider Healthboards. If you are a professional working in the care of Neurosurgical patients and would be interested in getting more involved with the work of the Network, you can contact us here.
A brief summary of these groups can be found below:
Inter-regional Group (IRG)
The IRG was created to join all four Neurosurgical Units with meetings every two months to table operational issues and to promote national working. It bridges the gap between strategy and policy arising from the work of the MSN Board, and operational and clinical activity within Neurosurgery services. The IRG sits below the MSN Board within the structure of the Network, where it has operational oversight and a governance function.
Paediatric Advisory Group (PAG)
This group performs similarly to the IRG, with a focus to drive improvement in the delivery of care of paediatric patients. The PAG is made up of Consultants and other professionals delivering care to our younger patients, to ensure governance oversight of the delivery of services, ensure equitable care can be delivered throughout Scotland, and to improve the transition between paediatric and adult services when necessary. The group has oversight of audit work, such as the annual CAPNA Audit (Clinical Audit for Paediatric Neurosurgical Activity). The PAG also meets to discuss operational matters of paediatric services, which are delivered separately to adult services. The PAG meets every 6 months.
Audit and Research Collaborative
The delivery of high quality clinical research benefits all patients, ensuring continuous improvement for the care Neurosurgical services can provide. The Research Collaborative can be a ‘springboard’ for these projects to develop and expand. The group organises a conference twice of year, to present new and established projects. Whilst the remit of the group is to encourage clinical research trials, useful audit work and quality improvement projects happening locally are also welcomed, to share best practice and to generate ideas. The group aims to promote the delivery of high quality research, develop national working between the four Units and to share expertise nationwide.
The Collaborative is guided by a Steering Group, made up of members from the Scottish Neurosurgical research community. If you are involved in clinical research in Scotland and would be interested in getting involved, please contact us.
Allied Health Professionals
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) play a key role in the management of neurosurgical patients. Many of our patients require extensive rehabilitation in the acute hospital, the rehabilitation unit and in their own home when they are discharged. The contribution of the various disciplines (physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and dieticians) to the ultimate recovery of the patient is essential.
The MSN has established a national AHP Group with representatives from each of the four professions from the four Neurosurgical Units. The group meets every six weeks to discuss issues related to patient management, share resources and ideas about best practice and work on a variety of deliverables.
The group is currently working on reviewing and redesigning AHP pathways. Once the new pathways are in place, an audit of pathways will be performed.