£22 million to improve healthcare through research in north west London

The Department of Health has announced £10 million of renewed funding for a programme of research aimed at improving healthcare services.

The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR CLAHRC) for Northwest London was established in October 2008 to help translate research from the lab bench to the hospital bedside.

The new funding from the Department of Health, combined with a further £12m in matched funding from trusts, universities, charities and industry partners, will support the collaboration for the next five years.

The NIHR CLAHRC for Northwest London is hosted by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, with Imperial College London as the lead academic partner.

Professor Derek Bell, Director of NIHR CLAHRC for Northwest London and Chair in Acute Medicine at Imperial, said: “This is very exciting news and we are delighted that the Department of Health continues to put research high on the healthcare agenda.  We have been working hard to improve care through research for the past five years across North West London and this will help us do even more, together. 

“Thanks to this investment NIHR CLAHRC for Northwest London can continue to support patients, staff, and academics to improve healthcare.  We will focus on improving care for people in their early years including those with sickle cell disease or with allergies, for those with symptoms of breathlessness from heart failure or airways diseases, and for those who are frail.  We will also offer professional fellowships to help these organisations to deliver their improvement priorities. All of this will translate into a better health service for the communities we serve.” 

In its first five years, CLAHRC projects have achieved notable successes in improving patient care.

My Medications Passport

Patients at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust developed a booklet to help them keep track of medicines and medicine changes. Ten thousand paper copies have been ordered by over 70 healthcare organisations in England and Scotland since mid April.  An app version has been downloaded over 1078 times across 28 countries. 

Itchy Sneezy Wheezy

This project has provided training for school nurses, community nurses and parents to help them recognise and manage allergies and care for children closer to home. The programme has resulted in reduced emergency attendances for children with allergies and is now being rolled out across north west London.  A new online resource www.itchysneezywheezy.co.uk has been accessed by over 2,800 visitors. 

Discharge care bundle for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Staff at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital developed a package of services and information to help COPD patients when they are discharged from hospital. Patients are offered help with stopping smoking, pulmonary rehab services if needed, information resources, guidance on using inhalers, and a follow-up appointment. The care bundle has reduced lengths of stay, saved money and is being championed by the British Thoracic Society for use across the UK.

Based on a news release from Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust