Marking 13 years of the Strategic Clinical Network

The ongoing reshaping of the NHS at both national and regional level is now beginning to take effect. Changes to the structure and functions of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), alongside the planned transition of NHS England responsibilities, have created a period of significant organisational change. As a result, many clinical networks across the country are experiencing reduced capacity, with some services being transferred to alternative organisations and others being discontinued.

In the North West, the Strategic Clinical Networks will transition into a new structure called the Office for Pan-Integrated Care Board Commissioning (OPIC).

On 24th September, our Manager attended a celebration event marking 13 years of the Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Strategic Clinical Network (SCN) in its current form. The event also provided an opportunity to recognise the contribution of its Director, Julie Cheetham (pictured left), who will retire at the end of the month after 39 years of dedicated service within the NHS.

Over the past decade, we have worked closely with the SCN and its team, contributing to many shared achievements that have improved stroke and neurorehabilitation services across the region.

As an NHS provider funded clinical network, we have been less directly affected by the current organisational changes and remain well positioned to continue supporting system improvement. We will also continue our involvement in the ICB’s long term conditions and secondary prevention programme, previously coordinated through the SCN.