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Respiratory System: Diseases

Answer

The first strategic clinical networks were chosen by the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) using criteria developed with input from a broad range of stakeholders. In summary, the chosen conditions and patient groups are ones where:

a large scale change is required across complex pathways of care involving many professional groups and organisations and strategic clinical networks are the best approach to planning and delivering services; and

a co-ordinated, combined improvement approach is needed to overcome certain health challenges, which have not responded previously to other improvement efforts.

The NHS CB has made it clear that as priorities change, or when the work of one of the initial strategic clinical networks concludes, the board will identify new conditions or patient groups that would benefit from a strategic clinical network approach.

In addition to strategic clinical networks, the NHS CB expects that some local clinical networks will also be established in the new health system. These are likely to be supported by clinical commissioning groups and providers and established to support the delivery of local priorities and ways of working.

The NHS CB is currently in the process of recruiting a National Clinical Director for respiratory diseases.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

136304; 556 c625W

Session

2012-13

Subjects

Health services Diseases Respiratory system

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk