Regional neuromuscular clinical networks and forums

To help ensure that people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions get the highest quality support and care, there are ten regional neuromuscular clinical networks and forums across the UK who are working to identify gaps, improve quality and outcomes, and upskill healthcare professionals.

Each regional clinical network and forum brings together NHS commissioners, people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions and their families, expert neuromuscular clinicians, and allied health professionals. That regional expertise is then pooled together to ensure that specialist and community neuromuscular services are strengthened in local areas and across the UK.

The role of the networks and forums

Identifying gaps in neuromuscular services and community care, and working to address them

Raising awareness of neuromuscular disorders

Promoting the delivery of an equitable, high-quality service to all people with a muscle wasting and weakening condition in the region

Improving quality and outcomes

Upskilling health professionals who support people with a muscle wasting condition

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Where are the neuromuscular clinical networks and forums?

There are ten neuromuscular clinical networks and forums across the UK – eight in England, one in Scotland and one in Wales.

East Midlands Network
London and South East Coast Network
Thames Valley and Wessex Forum
West Midlands Network
Yorkshire, Humber and the North East Network
East of England Forum
North West Paediatric and Adult Neuromuscular Network
Scottish Muscle Network
South West Neuromuscular Operational Delivery Network
Wales Neuromuscular Network

What is our role

We coordinate, take part in, and work closely with ten regional and national neuromuscular clinical networks across the UK. We directly manage and support the coordination of five of the networks:

East Midlands Network
London and South East Coast Network
Thames Valley and Wessex Forum
West Midlands Network
Yorkshire, Humber and the North East Network

With funding for specialised services being delegated to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS England has confirmed they will be looking at clinical networks to help understand patient need in local areas and to identify ways to improve provision of resources going forward. We envision neuromuscular forums and clinical networks will have a large role to play to provide input into local service delivery, as we transition towards more regionalised commissioning.

Calling for investment into the networks

As part of our ‘Shine a Light’ campaign, we’re asking the NHS to invest further in Managed Clinical Neuromuscular Networks to address this inconsistency and ensure they each have sufficient provision. For example, only the Southwest, North West and Scotland networks receive NHS funding, but even then, are funded in different ways. This investment will help promote integrated working, ensure patients have access to properly resourced healthcare and address unwarranted variation in neuromuscular services across the UK. This will also ensure these networks are set up properly to fully support ICSs going forward.

More information

Neuromuscular Clinical Networks manged by Muscular Dystrophy UK

Two women sit and chat together at a conferene

Neuromuscular Clinical Networks managed by the NHS