NHS patients in North West London will benefit from a multi-million pound research project leading to the rapid introduction of new, effective treatments for a wide range of medical conditions.
NHS hospitals, primary care trusts and community services in North West London, led by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with their academic partner Imperial College London, will have funding of £20 million available over the next five years.
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo announced today (Tuesday 27 May) National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funding of £10 million for the North West London Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) - this will be matched by £10 million of funding from the organisations involved in the Collaboration.
The North West London CLAHRC will be hosted at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and is one of 7 new research partnerships between NHS trusts and leading universities to receive NIHR funding.
The Collaboration will develop service innovations to improve the care of acutely ill patients and patients with chronic diseases across different NHS organisations.
New treatments and new ways of working will be tested and, if proven to be effective and suitable for use, the North West London CLAHRC will support NHS staff to incorporate these into their everyday work.
The North West London CLAHRC is a unique development for healthcare in London because:
- It will speed up the introduction of new treatments that research demonstrates will benefit patients
- It will reduce variations in care and standardise treatment wherever patients are treated
- It will involve patients and the public in all aspects of CLAHRC activity, and ensure that all new treatments focus on improving patient experience as well as safety and functionality
The first projects due to get underway in October 2008 include:
- A joint research project with NHS Direct to explore the potential benefits of telephone follow-up in relation to patient drugs for patients discharged from hospital
- A primary care-led project to develop case management of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma living in the community
- Further development of 'care bundles' to standardise treatment of patients with pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
Heather Lawrence, Chief Executive of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I am delighted that the CLAHRC bid which was co-ordinated by Professor Derek Bell, Professor of Acute Medicine, on behalf of the NHS in North West London has gained government funding.
"Our ambitious programme of work aims to deliver research benefits to patients throughout North West London as rapidly as possible. We hope that it will deliver tangible improvements in the care that patients receive in our area of the capital."