The Scottish home parenteral nutrition managed clinical network: one year on

The purpose of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is to allow patients with intestinal failure a reasonable quality of life and to facilitate independence from hospital. A managed clinical network (MCN) has been established for the organisation of HPN. This multi-professional group works towards optimal patient management by adoption of nationally agreed, evidence standards and protocols, to allow equity of access to quality care. A coordinator has identified patients and practice. A MCN exists to ensure that quality care can be delivered near to the patient's home. An audit of the organisation of HPN has been completed. The aims of this study were to identify the numbers of patients receiving this treatment and to assess management practices. Data was collected from 16 centres between July 2000 and August 2001. This paper discusses the practicalities of setting up the network and presents data from the first full year of audit. This will act as the baseline for continuous audit and a basis for revision of documentation.