Diabetes Managed Clinical Network

About Us

This section of the site provides a brief introduction to Forth Valley Diabetes Managed Clinical Network (MCN). Further information is available by clicking on the links on the left.

What are MCNs?

Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) aim to link groups of professionals, organisations, patients and carers to improve patient care. MCNs are intended to be multidisciplinary and draw on expertise from a variety of areas including local authorities and voluntary organisations as well as the NHS. The involvement of patients and carers in service planning is key to the thinking behind MCNs.

The Scottish Executive allocated funding to all NHS Board areas to establish local Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) in Diabetes. However, the model of integrated, collaborative working has been evolving within NHS Forth Valley for several years. The Diabetes MCN has evolved from the Forth Valley Local Diabetes Support & Advisory Group (LDSAG).

Forth Valley Diabetes MCN

The MCN helps to co-ordinate and develop diabetes services across the NHS Forth Valley area. Every local clinician that someone with Diabetes might meet as part of their Diabetes care are members of the local MCN.

David Munro was appointed as MCN Manager in September 2004, to support the lead clinician and the MCN generally. The Diabetes Managed Clinical Network (MCN) has been in place for over a year now.

A wide Reference Group with representative members from the local hospital sites, primary care and groups of healthcare professionals, along with service user representatives, meets four times a year to share progress, agree key decisions and shape the future agenda. The MCN Reference Group agreed the role, remit and constitution. There are about 50 members of the MCN Reference Group. A variety of have been and will continue to established to take forward specific projects.

A small steering group also meets every 6 weeks to support the implementation of agreed developments, and assures the smooth day-to-day running of the Network.

The Diabetes Managed Clinical Network aims to:

• promote effective collaboration and co-ordination across traditional professional and organisational boundaries
• facilitate health professionals to work in partnership with patients to ensure the best use of resources, facilities, knowledge and experience to improve patient care
• deliver a high quality, clinically effective, patient focused service that is integrated and provided on an equitable basis
• ensure that professionals and patients are given the appropriate education and training opportunities
• minimise premature morbidity and mortality in those with diabetes
• maximise quality of life by detecting and treating disease and its complications at an early stage
• take forward the key recommendations of the Scottish Diabetes Framework

We are always looking to add to our network of contacts or even to the membership of the MCN. If you want to know more then please contact David Munro, MCN Manager.

Contact Details

David Munro
Forth Valley Diabetes MCN Manager
Forth Valley NHS Board 
Carseview House
Castle Business Park 
STIRLING
FK9 4SW
Tel: 01786 457304
Fax: 01786 451474
E-mail: david.munro@nhs.net