Lanarkshire hospitals get university status
Name changes for Hairmyres, Monklands, Wishaw
All three NHS Lanarkshire acute hospitals have been renamed – to reflect their new university status.
Thanks to a partnership between NHS Lanarkshire, Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), the hospitals are now University Hospital Hairmyres, University Hospital Monklands and University Hospital Wishaw.
Calum Campbell, NHS Lanarkshire’s chief executive, said: “This is a further significant step towards our vision of creating a culture of academic excellence in NHS Lanarkshire.
“This will help deliver new and improved ways of working and will bring major benefits for patients and healthcare students alike. In addition, our staff will get the opportunity to work alongside world-leading academics to tackle key health challenges facing people in Lanarkshire.”
GCU’S School of Health and Life Sciences is in the top 20 universities in the UK for allied health research.
Its research contribution in areas including healthy ageing; long-term health conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and diabetes; HIV and sexual health; and substance use and misuse, is recognised as world-leading.
Professor Pamela Gillies, principal and vice-chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “This development recognises our international reputation in applied health research, particularly within public health and the management of long-term health conditions.
“Patients will benefit from care and intervention that is underpinned and enhanced by robust research and I am delighted that we can deliver on our social mission as the University for the Common Good through this initiative.”
Initiatives are already under way to benefit patients, with researchers and academic staff working with NHS Lanarkshire, such as GCU’S Professor of Ageing and Health, Dawn Skelton.
This research is embedding exercise intervention to reduce falls and promote active ageing – a key challenge facing an ageing population.
Measures to reduce waiting times and improve access to healthcare have also been put into practice, including Lanarkshire patients being treated by GCU physiotherapists at the university’s clinic.
UWS, which has the largest School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery in Scotland, has recently entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement with NHS Lanarkshire.
It is officially recognised in the top three per cent of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings.
Professor Paul Martin, depute principal of UWS, said: “The university enjoys extremely close links with NHS Lanarkshire and this latest development will see us working even closer with colleagues at the Health Board for the benefit of healthcare in the region.”
UWS is the sole provider in the west of Scotland for midwifery. Its graduates and staff make a significant contribution to improving the health of the nation and they are also making their mark across the world to improve health and wellbeing internationally.
It is a leader in patient safety and recently played a key role in the development of an award-winning sepsis screening app. The university’s work in dementia is extensive and has seen UWS gain national recognition including best educational initiative at Scotland’s Dementia Awards 2016.
Commenting on the university’s strategic partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, Karen Wilson, dean of the university’s School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery, said: “We are delighted to have an important partnership with NHS Lanarkshire. The university has close ties with health boards throughout Scotland and this partnership formalises the strong links we enjoy with this important organisation, which plays such a key role in the health and wellbeing of people throughout Lanarkshire.”
The partnership will explore the potential for future research links and joint research projects. It will also see collaborative working to aid student recruitment, student employment and student projects.
Dr Iain Wallace, NHS Lanarkshire’s medical director, said: “This partnership underlines our strong commitment to research and development in Lanarkshire.
“Our vision is to put NHS Lanarkshire on the map as an academic centre where our health professionals have the opportunity to learn, develop, research, and teach as their career progresses.”