This presentation published by NHS England outlines the benefits that Operational Delivery Networks will deliver in coordinating patient pathways between providers over a wide area to ensure access to specialist resources and expertise.

Download: Operational delivery networks – update December 2012

Provider clinicians dominate their membership, though work closely with patients and other stakeholders. In future they will be provider hosted and funded.

Benefits of ODNs

• Improved outcomes, productivity and efficiency
• Stronger collaborative provision of services
• Maintained/improved quality of care and outcomes for patients
• Opportunities for risk sharing between providers
• More accurate costing meaning resources can be used more efficiently
• Ability to adopt innovative practice quicker than in the past
• Rapid learning and development
• Improved system resilience, including major incident planning