Advancing Spinal Care Across Our Region

Connecting healthcare professionals to improve outcomes for spinal patients in North East London and South Essex

About Our Network

Welcome to the North East London and South Essex Spinal Network. Our Network comprises of two major spinal and neurosurgery centres in East London: Barts Health NHS Trust and Barking, Havering & Redbridge NHS Trust. In Essex, Princess Alexandra NHS Trust & Mid & South Essex NHS Trust are part of the Network.

The North East London and South Essex Spinal Network works with the hospitals and Mid and South Essex ICS (https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk), North East London ICS (https://northeastlondon.icb.nhs.uk) and West Essex ICS (https://www.hertsandwestessex.ics.nhs.uk/about/icb/), with the aim to improve access to excellent care for patients presenting with spinal conditions via an elective pathway or as an emergency, and to reduce variation in clinical practice between providers within the network. We do this by helping define standards, pathways and standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at improving access and care for patients presenting with spinal conditions via an elective or emergency care pathway.

All networks have an important role in delivering the triple aim:

Learn More About Our Work

Clinical Resources, Guidelines and Pathways

Pathways

Clinical Pathway Tool

Access our interactive clinical pathway tool to guide step-by-step management of spinal conditions across primary and community care settings.

Launch Pathway Tool

North East London and South Essex MSCC Pathway

Access the Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) pathway and contact details for the co-ordinators across the region.

Launch MSCC Pathway Tool

Suspected Cauda Equina Pathway

GIRFT national pathway for suspected cauda equina syndrome.

View Document

Vertebral Fracture Pathway

GIRFT pathway for vertebral fracture management.

View Document

Guidelines

Spinal Surgery Day Case Discectomy

Guidelines for day surgery discectomy procedures.

View Document

FF Handbook: Adult Spinal Surgery

Comprehensive handbook for adult spinal surgery.

View Document

Spinal Surgery Specialty Page

GIRFT spinal surgery specialty information.

Visit Page

Spinal Injection Policies

Regional policies and guidelines for spinal injections.

All ICB's Policy Summary

Data and Implementation

Virtual Triage Implementation in Spinal Services

Read about the implementation of virtual triage in spinal services at Royal London Hospital.

View Implementation Document

Spinal Network Research

Spinal Surgical Patient Information Leaflets

Patient Information Resources

Access comprehensive patient information booklets about various spinal conditions and surgical procedures from the British Association of Spine Surgeons.

View Patient Leaflets

Spine School - Surgical Education

Educational Resources for Spinal Surgery

The Network Spine School video is an educational presentation on what to expect when having surgery. If you have any questions, please ask your spinal surgeon or their team

Spinal Surgery Video

Educational video for patients and professionals

Spine Network Conferences

Annual Conference Series

The North East London and South Essex Network hosts two major conferences each year, bringing together spinal care professionals from across the region to share knowledge, discuss emerging trends, and collaborate on improving patient outcomes.

Spring Conference - May 8th

Held on May 8th, with an agenda on MSCC, research and pathway updates and the surgical case discussions.

Autumn Conference - TBC

Held annually in October (date TBC), focusing on clinical outcomes and network developments.

Contact the Network

Network Leads

Ahmed Sadek

Clinical Lead

Clare Singh

Network Manager

Phil Barber

Pathways Lead

Luke Wilson

MDT Co-ordinator