Investment in psychiatry research may benefit older patients with mental health issues

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust is supporting the appointment of specialist professorial teams at University of Leicester

Patients in Leicestershire experiencing mental health issues in later life are to benefit from an investment into cutting-edge psychiatry research at the University of Leicester by the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT).

The University is appointing four new clinical academic posts in adult and old age psychiatry funded by the LPT, two of which are at Professorial level. The new appointments aim to establish a source of specialist expertise in psychiatry that will enhance research programmes at the University and improve access to specialist care for patients locally.

The four new appointments will be based at the University of Leicester's Centre for Medicine, its new medical teaching and research facility, and at Glenfield Hospital where they will hold roles as Honorary Consultants.

They will be expected to maintain and further develop a programme of high quality and competitive research into mental health, as well as supporting the development of the next generation of medical professionals by contributing to teaching on the University's new Medical School curriculum.

Professor Terry Brugha, Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Leicester, said: "These appointments, all of which are at a senior level, will establish a strong base of academic and clinical expertise that will open up new avenues of research for the University and provide access to experienced specialists for patients locally.

"We have a forward-looking leadership in the NHS here who see the importance of academic development to enhancing patient services by attracting the best possible staff to come and work with us.

"Recent years has seen a decline in clinical posts at the Medical School funded by the NHS locally and indeed a general lack of the much needed growth in psychiatry and related research.  The decision by LPT to create four new posts, two each in adult and in old age psychiatry, is a huge boost to the discipline."

LPT is committed to developing, hosting and collaborating with local, national and international research through partnerships with academic and other NHS organisations as part of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), including Heart of England Mental Health Research Network (MHRN), Thames Valley Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN) and others.

Professor Mohammed Al-Uzri, Divisional Clinical Director at LPT, said: "LPT recognises the importance of working closely with the University of Leicester to develop the best expertise in clinical academia, which will undoubtedly contribute towards delivering the best quality service to our patients. This investment in high quality clinical academics will also offer an attractive incentive in our recruitment push across services, addressing health workforce shortages in the region. It is a fantastic opportunity for all involved. "

Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes, Chair of the Academic Faculty of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: "The new posts are very welcome at a time when we need to urgently address the pressing need to lead and develop research to deliver improved understanding of mental illness, its prevention and to develop better treatments as well train the future research leaders of tomorrow."