Improving care for patients with neurological conditions in south London

First ever neurosciences focused Operational Delivery Network (ODN) to improve quality, clinical outcomes and patient experience through collaboration across south London and beyond. 

King’s Health Partners Neurosciences has an ambitious vision to become a world-class neurosciences institute, delivering outstanding clinical services, research and education in an integrated way to improve outcomes for patients with a wide range of neurological conditions. We will do this by strengthening the relationship between clinical services, research and training and education, so that discoveries made in our research laboratories are translated into clinical practice as quickly as possible and are taught in classrooms to the clinical practitioners and scientists of tomorrow.

With a complementary focus on improvement of clinical services, NHS England have funded the establishment of the first ever neurosciences focused Operational Delivery Network (ODN), which officially launched in October 2019. The South London Operational Delivery Network for Neurosciences brings together two of the largest neuroscience centres in London, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and St George’s Hospital, as well as their academic centres through King’s Health Partners and St George’s University of London. The aim of the network is to improve quality, clinical outcomes and patient experience through collaboration in neurosciences across south London and beyond. 

ODNs were developed to focus on coordinating patient pathways between providers over a wider region, rather than specific hospitals, to ensure equity of access to specialist resources and expertise, as well as to ensure that services are sustainable.

The launch event of the neurosciences ODN was attended by more than 100 delegates from across south London and further afield.

NHS England London Medical Director, Dr Simon Barton and NHS Improvement Lead, Rob Cockburn spoke at the event about the power of clinical networks in delivering change, together with the ODN Clinical Director, Dr Mike Dilley. Patient stories and the Neurological Alliance patient survey provided important context for identifying priorities for transformation in the network.

The event also included ‘workshop discussions’ within clinical areas across neurosciences. These discussions have helped to shape four key work streams in the ODN- Patient Experience, Clinical Pathways, Moving between Services, and Working Together. Several projects have been identified and the ODN are currently asking for expressions of interest to lead on some of these projects, please contact rachel.king25 AT nhs.net for more information.

The next step will involve consolidating work that is already underway and making concrete changes to the way health professionals including those in primary care networks and in the community, work together with the ODN to bring about improved and sustainable ways of delivering care to patients.

King’s Health Partners Neurosciences will work collaboratively with the ODN to ensure the benefits of this type of collaborative work improve outcomes for patients with neurological conditions.