The newly formed North West Neurosurgery Specialised Services Clinical Network (SSCN) marked a major milestone recently with its inaugural board meeting, held in St Helens on 19 June 2025.
The SSCN, launched in 2024 and funded by NHS England North West, brings together three of the region’s major neurosurgical providers: the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA), The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Collectively, these organisations serve a population of over 9 million people across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, and Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The meeting brought leadership and clinical experts together in person for the first time to establish the foundations of a collaborative approach focused on improving access, outcomes, and experience for patients across the region.
Professor Paul May, Chair of the SSCN, highlighted the importance of this collaboration:
“The Network provides an incredible opportunity to work collaboratively in the region to advance our services, with a focus on access, outcomes and experience.”
Network manager Alastair Leslie-Dakers also emphasised the significance of the day:
"The inaugural Network Board was a significant milestone in the development of our collaboration. It marks the start of our journey, working together to strategically plan and develop NHS Neurosurgery Services in the North West with our focus on access, outcomes, and experience"
The SSCN is hosted by the NCA and aims to extend its collaborative model to engage Integrated Care Boards, NHS England, and wider stakeholders in shaping the future of neurosurgical care in the North West.
For further information, please contact:
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Alastair Leslie-Dakers, network manager – alastair.lesliedakers@nca.nhs.uk
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Vishnu Achoor, communications lead – vishnu.achoor@nca.nhs.uk