National Neurological Advisory Group

National Neurological Advisory Group Update

The NNAG Project Co-ordinator, Paula Aldin-Scott started her role in February 2013 and her first task was to prepare for the forthcoming NNAG meeting.

The NNAGmeeting was well attended with Neurological Voice Representatives speaking on behalf of patients and carers. The meeting focused down to consider the workstreams of the group, these are to be:

• Person Centred
• Condition Specific

The Recommendations from the HIS Neurological Services in Scotland Final Report July 2012 have been used to inform the development of these workstreams. Alliance Chair, Craig Stockton is taking up the role of Convener for the Person Centred Workstream and Vice Chair, Tanith Muller along with Christine Carlin from Alliance member organisation the MS Society, will be Joint Conveners of the Condition Specific Workstream. The Conveners along with the Project Co-ordinator will speak with members of both the NNAG and Neurological Voices to bring together individuals who can help take this work forward.

The Operational Management Group (OMG), chaired by Susan Walker from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has had a busy couple of months and have met twice this year so far. The initial focus of the OMG Sub Group was to agree a manageable workplan to help support the improvement of services and therein provide better outcomes for neurological patients and their unpaid carers. The workplan includes: regular reports to NNAG; review of NHS Board Plans; DCAQ; Data and Audit; staffing and the workforce; feedback systems; functional symptoms; and learning and sharing.

The OMG Sub Group has recently held its second meeting of the year. Covering two workplan areas they received presentations on: Highlights of the Progress NHS Boards have made and Meeting HIS Functional Symptoms Standards through Partnership Working. It was agreed that presentations on themes within the workplan for future meetings were valuable in creating discussion and learning within the group, that could be shared with colleagues in other services across neurology.

Both OMG Sub Group meetings were well attended and Neurological Voices were well represented.

The Project Co-ordinator has been out and about meeting people to help her build relationships, knowledge and support for the work of the NNAG, its OMG Sub Group and Workstreams.

For further information contact Paula Aldin -Scott on 07734996210 -or email paula.aldin-scott@scottishneurological.org.uk

Clinical Standards for Neurological Health Services

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (formerly NHS Quality Improvement Scotland) launched the Clinical Standards for Neurological Health Services at an event in January 2010 along with their plan for implementation.

The implementation of the clinical standards began in 2010 with the Neurological Services Implementation and Improvement Support Programme at Healthcare Improvement Scotland undertaking a two year programme to support all NHS Boards to improve their local neurological health services and achieve the Clinical Standards. This programme ended in March 2012.

All NHS Boards appointed a Health Improvement Lead responsible for leading on implementation in their local area. Boards completed a self evaluation in order to identify the criteria which they are already meeting, identify the challenges and determine the highest priority standard criteria that each board will focus their efforts upon. 16 standards were prioritised nationally and all Boards developed work to improve their services in order to achieve these standards. At the end of the improvement programme a series of peer reviews were held to examine the performance of each NHS Board in meeting the prioritised standards. The final report which summarises the peer reviews is available here. Each NHS Board has now developed a local improvement plan based upon the self evaluation and peer reviews along with consideration to priorities identified by patients and carers using neurological health services.

The Alliance has had a key role in both the development and implementation of the standards and ensures that all member organisations are regularly updated on the progress being made. It is critical that the work done so far is continued and that NHS Boards remain focused on improving their neurological services now that the implementation and improvement support programme has ended. The Alliance has been pivotal in establishing the National Neurological Advisory Group (NNAG) which will oversee the programme of work to continue improving services for people with neurological conditions across Scotland. To read more about the NNAG click here.

The Alliance continues to ensure meaningful involvement of people affected by neurological conditions in the review of neurological health services and improvement required to achieve the standards via the Neurological Voices programme which was launched in April 2011 and which has worked with a number of Boards to date to ensure the patient voice is heard. To read more about the Neurological Voices project click here.