Managed Clinical Networks | History Of MCNs

NHS Tayside Centre
for Managed Clinical /Care Networks

History Of MCNs

The concept of Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) was first set out in the report of the Acute Services Review (June 1998). It was followed in February 1999 by a Management Executive Letter (MEL) (1999)10, which defined Managed Clinical Networks as:

‘linked groups of health professionals and organisations from primary, secondary and tertiary care, working in a coordinated manner, unconstrained by existing professional and Health Board boundaries, to ensure equitable provision of high quality clinically effective services throughout Scotland’.

This MEL gave an overview to the concept of MCNs and set out the core principles which were to govern MCNs across Scotland. It also outlined the different types of MCNs and provided an example of how an MCN can be developed.

In 2002, the Health Department Letter (HDL) (2002) 69 was published. This reiterated the commitment to MCNs, highlighted the advantages of MCNs and outlined key areas such as quality assurance, clinical governance and funding) which had been clarified through experience.

In March, 2007, HDL (2007) 21 was published. The key message of this HDL is that development of MCNs cannot take place in isolation. It covered how MCNs should be integrated into relevant planning arrangements from the outset of development, how patient and carer involvement could be increased and the role of information technology in MCNs. It also highlighted further the differences between Managed Care Networks and Managed Clinical Networks.

Further Information

Further information about MCNs is available in the following documents, published by the Scottish Executive Health Department:

Scottish Executive Health Department Management Executive Letter (1999) 10: Sets out the core principles underlying Managed Clinical/Care Networks in the NHS in Scotland and providing a procedure for creating and dissolving Networks.
Scottish Executive Health Department Letter (2002) 69: Re-iterates the Executive’s commitment to the concept of Managed Clinical Networks, sets out their advantages, restates the core principles governing their development, indicates key areas such as quality assurance, clinical governance, funding and workforce arrangements in particular.

Scottish Executive Health Department Letter (2007) 21: Provides guidance aimed at strengthening MCNs authority and increasing their influence over how resources are allocated. Covers Managed Care Networks, Integrating MCNs, Leadership, Patient and Carer Involvement and Information Technology.

History Of MCNs | Further Information about the Centre for MCNs | MCNs affiliated to NHS Tayside

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