A new body has been established in the South West which will
focus on improving care across the region through research,
innovation and best practice, and ensure effective and timely
implementation of new developments in health.
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is one of
sixteen organisations across the region that will form the Health
and Innovation Education Cluster South West (HIEC SW).
HIEC SW is a cross sector partnership between NHS organisations,
the Higher Education sector and private sector companies across the
region, which will focus initially on three key areas of
work:
- Maternity and newborn care
- Planned care
- Prevention " avoiding needless emergency admissions to
hospital
Through joint working the HIEC will provide professional education
and training and promote innovation in healthcare by speeding up
the adoption of research. It will also provide professional
education and training.
One of 17 clusters announced by Health Minister, Ann Keen, in
December, HIEC SW will share £11 million of funding in the first
year.
Ann Keen said: HIECs are special partnerships that draw on the
wealth of skills and experience of their members to improve the
development of high quality care and services by quickly bringing
the benefits of research and innovation directly to patients.
John Bewick, Director of Strategic Development at the South West
Strategic Health Authority, said:
We are looking forward to working with the universities and NHS
organisations in the South West to accelerate the pace of service
improvement for local people. These projects will attract and
encourage the best talent who can recognise and rapidly adopt new
and innovative healthcare and treatment.
Irene Gray, Chief Operating Officer, University Hospitals
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, says: This is an exciting opportunity
which we are privileged to be a part of. We are confident that the
development of this new approach to innovation, research, teaching
and learning will have great benefits to the service we deliver to
patients in the future.
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