Imperial College Health Partners aims to improve the health and care of the population of 1.9 million people living in North West London - News release

**Issued on behalf of Imperial College Health Partners**

 For Immediate Release
19 June 2012

 Imperial College Health Partners, a company that aims to improve the health and care of the population of 1.9 million people living in North West London, is formed today.

The partnership, which is a limited company, brings together healthcare providers in North West London, including acute and specialist hospital, mental health and community care services, in partnership with Imperial College London to drive practical improvements to the quality of healthcare delivery. By coordinating the adoption of innovation, the partnership aims to bring benefits to the health of the local population and, through the dissemination of best practice, extend these more widely within the UK and beyond.

Collaborations to identify and share innovations that will make an impact on healthcare will draw on the nationally and internationally recognised expertise of individual partners in clinical service, research and education. The partners will work closely with the planned North West London Local Education and Training Board to embed new practices through the training and education of healthcare workers. With access to a population of 1.9 million people, the partnership presents opportunities to operate at a large and meaningful scale, including for clinical trials, and become involved in commercial ventures to broaden the reach of its activities.

Members of the Board of Imperial College Health Partners, who hold equal voting rights, are drawn from the senior executives of the following institutions:

• Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
• Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Ealing Hospital NHS Trust
• Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Imperial College London
• North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
• Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
• West London Mental Health NHS Trust
• West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

 The foundation of Imperial College Health Partners follows the announcement in November 2011 of plans to establish an Academic Health Science Partnership.  Imperial College Health Partners complements the existing Academic Health Science Centre between Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which focuses on the early translation of research into patient care. Both institutions have joined the partnership as separate members, each with its own vote. 

The partnership is working towards designation as an Academic Health Science Network by the Department of Health later this year, and is seeking to build strong relationships with primary care providers, commissioners, local Health and Wellbeing Boards as well as other research organisations.

Professor the Lord Darzi, Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College London and formerly Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health, developed the proposal to establish an AHSP and is appointed Chairman of Imperial College Health Partners. He said:

“I am honoured to be asked by the founding institutions to be the first Chairman of Imperial College Health Partners.  The rationale for establishing the partnership is strong. Each partner brings unique and distinctive capabilities to the wider collaboration, and through our inclusive partnership we can make an impact on a wider population. Bound together, every partner has a stake in raising the performance of one another and the approach unlocks new opportunities for research and teaching. Our shared mission is to ensure that as many patients as possible benefit from innovations in healthcare.”

Speaking on behalf of the partners, Professor Sir Christopher Edwards, Chairman of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"We are delighted that Lord Darzi has agreed to be the first Chairman of Imperial College Health Partners. He is the ideal person, given his professional and academic background, political reputation and focus on improving the quality of patient care. His leadership will help the partnership to make a real, lasting difference to healthcare practice."

The process to appoint a Managing Director of Imperial College Health Partners is underway.

Reactions from Chief Executives/Chairmen:

James A. Reilly, Chief Executive of Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We very much look forward to our involvement in Imperial College Health Partners, and the opportunity it creates to share expertise across the healthcare sector. Collaboration is essential, to ensure effective, integrated, quality services that will benefit our local patients.”

Claire Murdoch, Chief Executive of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust said “We are delighted to be part of Imperial College Health Partners. We want to see world leading outcomes for patients in relation to their health – longer life expectancy and a better quality of life. This collaborative way of working across and between services and the physical and psychological needs of patients, is a major step in the right direction towards achieving this.”

Heather Lawrence, Chief Executive of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says: “We are delighted to be founder members of Imperial College Health Partners. This new partnership is good news for the 1.9 million people who live in North West London and for NHS staff because together we can develop innovative solutions and translate research into practice to improve the quality of healthcare and health outcomes for patients.”

Julie Lowe, Chief Executive of Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, incorporating the community services of Brent, Ealing and Harrow said: "We are delighted to be part of the AHSP bringing together Imperial College and 11 NHS organisations in North West London. We will remain separate organisations but together we can help develop innovative solutions which will translate research into practice to improve healthcare for 1.9 million people.”

Shane Degaris, Chief Executive of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is great news for patients of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foun dation Trust and the wider population across North West London. It will enable all the Trusts to work with the res earchers and scientists at Imperial to drive forward improvements in healthcare over the coming years."

Mark Davies, Chief Executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust was formed with a clear commitment to transforming the healthcare of the local population in North West London as well as nationally and internationally through sharing of research, best practice and education. The formation of Imperial College Health Partners represents the next stage in extending our partnership working with other organisations also committed to those same ambitions. We are excited about the potential this brings to increase rapidly the size and scope of research studies and the speed of translation of breakthroughs into everyday clinical practice so that more patients will benefit quicker from medical innovations.”

Sir Keith O’Nions, the President & Rector of Imperial College London, said: “Imperial College always looks to make a positive difference in society through its education and research, so we are proud to be a founder member of this partnership and working together towards higher quality care for patients.”

Professor Rory Shaw, Medical Director of The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are proud of the contribution research has made to clinical excellence and we believe joining the AHSP will help us build on our existing R&D strengths to galvanise and incentivise research activity. This will benefit patient care and outcomes, benefit the NHS, build staff satisfaction and have a positive impact on our whole healthcare community.”

Bob Bell, Chief Executive of Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Collaboration on the scale represented by Imperial College Health Partners offers a valuable opportunity to leverage the best that each constituent organisation has to offer. Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust has a strong and established relationship with Imperial College; we jointly run two Biomedical Research Units and our published research is regularly the most highly cited in Europe for cardiac, cardiovascular, critical and respiratory care. This wider Academic Health Science Partnership may be based in North West London, but its influence will extend nationally and internationally.”

Steve Shrubb, Chief Executive of West London Mental Health NHS Trust, said:

“As a leading provider of mental health services in North West London, we are pleased to be able to join this partnership and believe it will contribute to improving outcomes for people who suffer from mental illness. We look forward to sharing expertise and collaborating with these key NHS organisations to the benefit of all who use our services. Joining Imperial College Health Partners reflects the Trust's commitment to work with colleagues in other healthcare sectors to ensure that we are able to develop and deliver care of the highest standard.”

Dame Jacqueline Docherty, Chief Executive of West Middlesex University Hospital, said: “We are delighted that West Middlesex University Hospital are founding members in this exciting collaboration.  We already work closely with Imperial College in medical education and look forward to working more closely with them and other local healthcare providers to jointly improve health outcomes through innovation and collaborative expertise. This will not only benefit patients in west London, but also further afield.”

Notes to editors

For more information about Imperial College Health Partners, contact:

Caroline Davis
Imperial College London Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6699
Email: c.davis@imperial.ac.uk

Simon Watts
Imperial College London Press Office
Tel: 44 (0)20 7594 6701
Email: s.watts@imperial.ac.uk 

Out of hours duty press officer: +44 (0)7803 886248

About Imperial College Health Partners

Imperial College Health Partners is a Company Limited by Guarantee and was originally proposed by Lord Darzi in his report, ‘Launching an Academic Health Sciences Partnership in North West London’. The report sets out the purpose and rationale of the partnership in more detail and is available at: https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/college/Public/pdfs/AHSPartnershipReview.pdf

The plans for Academic Health Science Networks in England were announced in the White Paper “Innovation, Health and Wealth - accelerating the adoption and diffusion in the NHS” published in December 2011:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_131784.pdf

Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham PC, KBE – biographical information

Professor The Lord Darzi of Denham, KBE, PC, FmedSci, HonFREng holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London. He is an Honorary Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College Hospital NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital and holds the Chair of Surgery at the Institute of Cancer Research. He was appointed as Chairman for the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London in 2010.

Research led by Professor Darzi is directed towards achieving best surgical practice through both innovation in surgery and enhancing the safety and quality of healthcare. He has published over 600 peer-reviewed research papers to date.

He was knighted for his services in medicine and surgery in 2002. In 2007 Professor Darzi was introduced to the United Kingdom’s House of Lords as Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham and appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health. In this role he led a major review of the NHS which was followed by publication of his report ‘High Quality Care For All'. He relinquished this position in July 2009 when he was appointed the United Kingdom’s Global Ambassador for Health and Life Sciences, and Chair of NHS Global as well as United Kingdom Business Ambassador, an appointment re-confirmed in 2010 by Prime Minister David Cameron. Lord Darzi was appointed as a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council in June 2009.

About the institutions represented on the Board of Imperial College Health Partners

 About Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust is London’s largest standalone community healthcare provider, delivering services to more than 950,000 patients in the boroughs of Barnet, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster.  http://www.clch.nhs.uk/  

About Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest trusts in London offering a wide range of health and social care services across ten boroughs. The Trust has over 5,000 employees serving more than 100 sites. We specialise in providing community health services to residents in Hillingdon and Camden, caring for people with mental health problems, addictions and learning disabilities,  and delivering primary care services in a number of prisons. The catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of affluence as well as sections with much deprivation. http://www.cnwl.nhs.uk

About Chelsea and Westminster Hos pital NHS Foundati on Trust

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a leading Lond on teaching hospital which provides specialist services including HIV and sexual health, paediatrics and intensive care for patients wherever they live, and an increasing number of community services closer to where patients live. http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/

About Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

Ealing Hospital NHS Trust is a District General Hospital incorporating since 1^st April 2011 the Community Services of Brent, Ealing, and Harrow. The Trust offers a 24 hour A&E service and a wide range of clinical services to its diverse population. http://www.ealinghospital.nhs.uk/

About Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust works to deliver high quality acute health care to the residents of the borough of Hillingdon in North West London.

We aim to provide high quality emergency and specialist patient-focussed care which is accessible and responsive. This care is delivered by skilled and motivated staff, in conjunction with partners in the local community to promote dignity, choice and good health. http://www.thh.nhs.uk/

 About Imperial College London

Consistently rated amongst the world's best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

Since its foundation in 1907, Imperial's contributions to society have included the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve global health, tackle climate change, develop sustainable sources of energy and address security challenges.

In 2007, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust formed the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre. This unique partnership aims to improve the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them into new therapies as quickly as possible.  www.imperial.ac.uk

About Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust comprises Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea, St Mary's and Western Eye hospitals. With more than one million patient contacts each year, it is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country and has some of the lowest mortality rates in the country according to the Dr Foster Guide - an annual, independent report published 2011. It has an annual turnover of around £900 million and is one of eleven NIHR Biomedical Research Centres. www.imperial.nhs.uk

About the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust manages Northwick Park and St Mark’s Hospitals in Harrow and Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal and employs 4,500 staff. We provide care for more than half a million people living in Brent and Harrow, as well as patients from all over the country and internationally at St Mark’s, our specialist hospital for colorectal and intestinal disorders.  www.nwlh.nhs.uk

 About Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust is a national and international specialist heart and lung centre based in Chelsea, London and Harefield, Middlesex. The Trust helps patients from all age groups who have heart and lung problems and is the country's largest centre for the treatment of adult congenital heart disease. www.rbht.nhs.uk

About West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust is a major acute hospital in Isleworth, West London. It provides a full range of services to residents of the London Boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond Upon Thames. Our imperative is to meet the changing needs of our local community through genuine commitment to providing high quality care in every respect. http://www.west-middlesex-hospital.nhs.uk/

About West London Mental Health NHS Trust

West London Mental Health NHS Trust is one of the largest mental health trusts in the country. It provides a full range of mental health services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, in addition to specialist and forensic mental health services. These include high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital, the country's largest Gender Identity Clinic in Hammersmith and a specialist personality disorder service at the Cassel Hospital in Ham. It aims to meet the diverse needs of a local population of nearly 750,000 people and employs around 4,000 staff across 29 sites. www.wlmht.nhs.uk