Creation of Academic Health Sciences Centre a step closer with Biomedical Research Centre application and key appointment

Application to become Biomedical Research Centre marks major milestone in move towards becoming UK's first Academic Health Sciences Centre - News Release

Issued jointly by: Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, St Mary's NHS Trust and Imperial College London

For Immediate Release
Monday 16 October

A joint application by St Mary's NHS Trust  and The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust  to become a Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) was submitted to the Department of Health on Friday 13 October. The final application marks another major milestone as the two organisations, in association with Imperial College London, move towards becoming the UK's first Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) on 1 April 2007.

Around the UK, there will be only 10 National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) BRCs, comprising five specialist and five general centres. Selection as a BRC will guarantee significant research funding for an NHS organisation for five years and is a major benefit of the merger and AHSC creation. Changes to the allocation of funding for NHS research mean that NHS research organisations have to bid for funding instead of the current system where all research focussed trusts receive annual funding. The DH will announce its decision early next year.

A small programme team is now in place to implement the creation of an AHSC, overseen by a Joint Steering Committee (JSC) chaired by Lord Tugendhat who is currently Chairman of Lehman Brothers' European Advisory Board, a former Chairman of Abbey National plc and Blue Circle plc, and a former Vice-President of the European Commission.

Trust Chief Executives Julian Nettel and Derek Smith, and Rector of Imperial College London Sir Richard Sykes said, "We are delighted to have secured the services of a Chairman of such calibre. Lord Tugendhat’s knowledge and experience at a national and international level, combined with his financial acumen, gives us every confidence that he can lead this process successfully."

The creation of the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre will be a major advance for patient-centred clinical care, research and discovery. It will bring together two of the UK's leading teaching and research hospitals together with the UK's leading clinical academic university to generate excellence in health services and scientific endeavour which overcomes traditional barriers to access, innovation and investment. The AHSC will be a dynamic centre for progress, which nurtures a unique academic environment that is a magnet for clinical leaders who champion creating and delivering new diagnostic and treatment options which improve the lives and welfare of patients.

The merger of the Trusts would be subject to staff, patient and public consultation plus NHS London and Department of Health approval.

NHS London Chairman Dr George Greener said:

"The AHSC is an innovative idea and one we are encouraging all three organisations to explore further. We recognise that an AHSC has the potential to deliver innovation healthcare at the same time as providing first-class patient services.

"We will want to be involved at every stage to make sure that London's wider healthcare can be enhanced."

Details of consultation opportunities will be made available on the organisations' websites and in local newspapers.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

1. For more information contact Nick Samuels (Hammersmith Hospitals, 020 8383 3005), Claire Burroughs (St Mary's, 020 7886 6704) and Tom Miller (Imperial College London, 020 7594 8740).

2. Photos of Lord Tugendhat are available electronically.

3. Lord Tugendhat's appointment as Chairman of the Joint Steering Committee takes immediate effect.

4. In terms of benefits to patients both locally and beyond, the trusts and Imperial believe the establishment of an AHSC would:

• Attract the world's leading clinicians
• Shorten the development and availability of new treatments and services
• Improve clinical quality and governance further
• Enable a stronger critical mass of specialist services and ensure better quality care for patients with complex diseases and health needs.

5. A key part of implementing Best Research for Best Health, the new national health research strategy, is establishing Research Centres within leading NHS and University partnerships to drive progress on innovation and translational research in biomedicine and NHS service quality and safety. NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) will be leaders in scientific translation and early adopters of new insights in technologies, techniques and treatments for improving health. The creation of these centres will be a key component of the NHS contribution to the UK's international competitiveness. The joint bid by St Mary's NHS Trust and The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, in association with Imperial College, to become a BRC was submitted to the Department of Health on 13 October 2006.