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23 May 2013

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ part of Academic Health Science Network

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is part of a new East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) announced by NHS England today.

The EMAHSN is a new and unique partnership with a key focus on adopting and spreading innovation and best practice.

It will develop solutions to healthcare problems and ensure existing solutions are spread more quickly by building strong relationships with regional scientific and academic communities and industry.

There are 87 partners in the East Midlands AHSN serving a population of 4.8 million, including NHS, universities and industry in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

EMAHSN will focus on key health issues in the East Midlands, including the care of frail older people and stroke rehabilitation.

Peter Homa, Chief Executive of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Interim Chair for the East Midlands AHSN, said:

“All partners from the East Midlands are naturally delighted with the news that the East Midlands has been designated and licensed as an Academic Health Science Network.

“The East Midlands starts from a position of great strength with our excellent track record of world-class expertise in research and innovative collaboration with our university and industry partners.

“By working ever closer together across each of these sectors and sharing our ideas for innovation, we will be able to act even faster to put these innovations and ideas into practice, to further improve the health, care and outcomes for our patients.”

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research Professor Myra Nimmo added:

“For East Midlands universities, this is a fantastic opportunity to work together to make the very best use of our complementary research, teaching and education strengths. Our close connections with the NHS and industry can only benefit further from EMAHSN authorisation.”

NHS England’s Chief Executive, Sir David Nicholson, said:

“The NHS is full of brilliant people with brilliant ideas. To spread ideas right across the NHS means working collaboratively with all those who have an interest.

“AHSNs offer a more systematic delivery mechanism so that innovation spreads quickly and successfully through the NHS, making the best possible use of precious NHS resources and in ensuring the most advanced treatments, technologies and medicines are available to patients.”

The development of AHSNs was recommended in Sir David’s December 2011 report Innovation, Health and Wealth. Sir Alan Langlands, CEO of the Higher Education Funding Council, chaired the panel to consider applications from prospective AHSNs.

The 15 AHSNs they recommended will now be given licence to operate and will cover the whole of England.

For more information about the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, visit: www.emahsn.ac.uk

−ENDS−

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 13/92

  1. The designated AHSNs are:
    East Midlands, Eastern, Greater Manchester, North East and North Cumbria, North West Coast, Imperial College Health Partners, Oxford, South London, South West Peninsula, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, UCL Partners, Wessex, West Midlands, West of England, Yorkshire and Humber
  2. AHSNs bring together commissioners, providers, academia and industry to spread innovation and pace across the NHS. They have a dual purpose:
    a) To improve health and create wealth by delivering a step-change in the way the NHS identifies, develops, adopts and spreads new innovations
    b) To implement the key local commitments within Innovation Health and Wealth
  3. The AHSNs are licensed and funded by NHS England. The licensing has been designed to ensure that AHSNs will work in a partnership to improve patient care and deliver defined tasks and outcomes.
  4. The licensing process aims to ensure accountability for funding whilst maintaining the AHSNs with the freedom to establish as self-sustaining organisations.
  5. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

    It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year 2008-09 title, and is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in national newspaper league tables. In the 2011 National Student Survey, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ was voted one of the top universities in the UK, and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

    It is a member of the 1994 Group of 11 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.

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