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London hospitals unite to form pioneer supertrusts
Sophie Goodchild09.03.09
The creation of three medical "supertrusts" in London was today given the go-ahead by the Government.
Imperial College, University College London and King's College London are among five bidders across the country that have been chosen to deliver pioneering treatment to patients.
Hospitals will be directly linked to research institutes, uniting scientists and doctors in a bid to find cures for everything from cancer to deafness.
Patients at hospitals working as partners of the five Academic Health Science Centres announced today will benefit immediately from new drugs and treatments instead of facing delays.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "NHS patients will reap the benefits of the work of these new centres.
"In times of economic uncertainty it is even more important that we continue to support this country's knowledge industries to ensure that we benefit from the competitive edge which they provide."
Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust has already been working with researchers at Imperial College London. Their "supertrust" includes Hammersmith and St Mary's hospitals.
Professor Stephen Smith, from Imperial, said: "We will work in partnership with patients, academics, clinicians and other healthcare providers to ensure the UK is delivering integrated research and healthcare that is truly world-class."
UCL's powerhouse unites experts in child health from Great Ormond Street Hospital with researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital and transplant specialists from the Royal Free in Hampstead.
The group, known as UCL Partners, will concentrate on finding treaments in 10 key areas including cancer, heart disease and transplants.
UCL Partners chairman Sir Cyril Chantler said: "This is fantastic news, and a great tribute to the skill, expertise and team work of clinicians and researchers within UCL Partners.
"More than that, it is a tremendous boost for our plans to work together to improve the health of the patients that we serve, developing new techniques and treatments for patients in London, the UK and beyond."
King's will be linked to three foundation trusts: King's College Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' and the South London and Maudsley.
Reader views (2)
Well done London, specialist hospital are the way forward, these includ GOSH, Royal Free, and Moorefield leading the way for excellent treatment in their dedicated speciality.
- Professor Alexander Seifalian, London
Oooh so we've gone from 'Teaching Hospitals' to 'Centres of Excellence' to 'Foundation Trusts' to 'Super Trusts'. What next 'Cosmic Excellence'??? It still represents underfunded overused incompetent dirty hospitals. Who would imagine that since Pasteur discovered the reality of germs and bacteria that you can still go into hospital with a minor ailment and come out with a deathly disease?
- Real, London
