One of the first projects undertaken by the MSN was the development of a set of core, evidence-based standards for neurosurgery in Scotland. The purpose of this exercise was to provide a framework of auditable measures to ensure all patients receive the best possible, and a similar level of, care wherever they are treated in Scotland. The resulting MSN Clinical Standards for Neurosurgical Services in Scotland was published in 2010.
In 2021, it was agreed that these national standards should be revisited in order to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and appropriate to the service delivered today. A Standards Core Working Group was been set up at the beginning of 2022 as a time-limited group for this project.
Aims
To review, update and implement Standards for Neurosurgery services across Scotland, The remit of the group is to:
- Review, amend and agree measureable standards for neurosurgical services across Scotland
- Standards should aim to improve quality of care
- Develop suite of audits to measure quality of care.
How do we achieve this?
- A Standards Core Group was set up at the beginning of 2022 as a time-limited working group for this project.
- The group has representation from management, clinicians, AHPs and Nurses from the four neurosurgical sites and is supported by the MSN team.
- The core group is systematically working through existing neurosurgical standards, using their expertise to agree which should be kept or amended, as well as identifying any gaps and agreeing new measurable standards.
- Progress of the Standards Core Group is fed back to the wider Inter-Regional Group and MSN Board.
Outcome
- The outcome of this work will be a suite of auditable standards.
- There will be a three year rolling programme of audits, which will review standards and make amendments to improve quality of the service where required.
- The standards will be reviewed every three years.
- The new standards will be published on this website, once the project is complete.