A strategic partnership between Lanarkshire’s key delivery agencies for health and social care and the University of Strathclyde is to be extended by five years.
The focus will be on harnessing academic research around innovation and digital to help NHS Lanarkshire, and North and South Lanarkshire councils improve healthcare outcomes.
The university has also signed memorandums of understanding with both Lanarkshire councils – consolidating the formal, multi-agency collaboration.
A key element of these arrangements is the recognition of Lanarkshire’s two university health and social care partnerships as ‘university-designated operating divisions’ of NHS Lanarkshire.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “It is a privilege to be working with NHS Lanarkshire, their leadership team and the staff there that make an enormous difference to the quality of people’s health.
“This renewal reinforces our commitment to working with all parts of the Health and Social Care system in Lanarkshire and will widen the opportunities for us to address the needs of the people of Lanarkshire through the translation of our research and innovation into high impact applications.
“At Strathclyde we have been delighted with the progress of our highly productive partnership since its inception and we are well positioned now to expand upon the value generated over the first phase of our relationship.”
The strategic partnership was first signed in 2020 when ‘university Status’ was awarded to NHS Lanarkshire.
Professor Jann Gardner, NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive, added: “As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare, extending our strategic partnership agreement with the University of Strathclyde is not just a commitment to collaboration; it’s an affirmation of our shared dedication to innovation, education and the relentless pursuit of excellence in patient care.”
Des Murray, North Lanarkshire Council chief executive, said: “Our organisations share a commitment to transforming lives within Lanarkshire and leading innovation in health and care for the benefit of the whole of Scotland.
“By enhancing our partnership working, we aim to develop new and sustainable solutions to health and social care challenges that will directly benefit our communities and our workforce for years to come.”
Paul Manning, South Lanarkshire Council chief executive, added: “All public services face significant challenges. However, this brings potential opportunities for improvement if public sector organisations have the ambition to work together in new and innovative ways.
“The positive actions of local government, NHS organisations and universities will have a significant impact for community wellbeing well into the future.”
The University’s partnership working is led by Health & Care Futures, a cross-university research and knowledge exchange initiative to utilise Strathclyde’s expertise to make an effective and sustained contribution to the future of health and care in the UK and beyond.
Health & Care Futures at Strathclyde is headed by Professor Roma Maguire, an expert in digital health and care in the university’s Department of Computing and Information Sciences.
Professor Maguire said: “Through our partnership with NHS Lanarkshire and the work that we are already doing with both of Lanarkshire’s University Health and Social Care Partnerships, we aim to drive forward healthcare research and make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and society, as well as support more health and care practitioners to undertake education, research and knowledge exchange with Strathclyde.”