University’s new partnership aims to transform respite care
Healthcare academics at Queen Margaret University have entered into a new working partnership with Scotland’s national respite centre, Leuchie House.
A collaboration has been agreed that aims to advance person-centred care services for people with neurological conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), stroke and motor neurone disease (MND).
This week saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by officials from QMU and Leuchie House in North Berwick – building on a ten-year relationship between the university and the national charity.
Not only will the partnership help to identify new research opportunities to support people living with degenerative diseases, it will also create opportunities for students from QMU’s School of Health Sciences to gain practical experience through various student placement opportunities.
Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of QMU, said: “Since its establishment, Leuchie House has been pivotal in ensuring the best quality of life possible for those with neurological conditions, as well as for their families and carers. Leuchie House’s work has been lifechanging for so many, and now, the formalisation of our partnership will only help progress this through the advancement of personcentred practice, learning, teaching, education, and innovative research opportunities.
“We are positive that our official partnership will be one that will not only advance personal centred care but is both mutually beneficial and unquestionably transformative.”
Leuchie CEO Mark Bevan said: “Scotland has a rapidly ageing population, with increasingly complex health care requirements and a shrinking workforce. We need new solutions to emerging challenges.
“This proactive partnership builds on our aspiration, to further develop Leuchie House as a centre of excellence which learns from and influences the latest thinking and practice in complex, highly personalised and technology enabled health care.
"Partnering with a UK top ranked University in health care science is a pivotal step in our journey.”
The Memorandum of Understanding will be operational for five years.