Imperial College London, St Mary’s and Hammersmith Hospitals consider a merger option

See also...

-Faculty of Medicine

-Imperial to consider forming UK's first Academic Foundation Trust

External Sites:
-Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

-St Mary's NHS Trust

(Imperial College is not responsible for the content of these external internet sites)

Joint Imperial College London, St Mary's NHS Trust and Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust News Release

For immediate release
Wednesday 15 February 2006

St Mary's and Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trusts are considering opportunities for closer collaboration. In particular the Trusts and Imperial College London are keen to explore how world class medical research and teaching can expand and be further harnessed for NHS patients.

An option under discussion is for the Trusts to merge and create the UK's first Academic NHS Foundation Trust. This model of research and patient care thriving side-by-side has been pioneered by leading hospitals and universities in north America and Europe with excellent outcomes for patients.

The Trusts and Imperial College are commissioning a feasibility study to identify the benefits of this approach for patients, research and training and to examine how practical it would be to implement. The three organisations will then decide whether to pursue this opportunity and engage with staff and local communities in the summer.

For further information please contact:

St Mary's NHS Trust - 020 7886 6704/1475

Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust - 020 8383 3005

Imperial College London - 020 7594 6712

Notes to editors:

1. Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions, Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students (11,000) and staff (6,000) of the highest international quality.
Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that enhance the quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.
Website: www.imperial.ac.uk