Trust Merger Approval Key Step In Creating UK's First Academic Health Science Centre
Lord Tugendhat appointed first Chairman
For immediate use
Wednesday 29 August 2007
Issued on behalf of Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, Imperial College London and St Mary's NHS Trust.
The UK's first Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) was given the green light today by the Secretary of State for Health following an extensive public consultation. The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and St Mary's Hospital NHS Trust will merge on 1 October and integrate with Imperial College London. The result, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust will form the foundation for the AHSC, and will be the largest NHS Trust in the UK.
Over three quarters of respondents to the consultation, which ran for three months earlier in the year, thought the merger was a good idea, with many believing that it would lead to better health services, better use of resources and the development of new and innovative solutions to modern medical challenges.
Lord Tugendhat has been appointed the first Chairman of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust by the independent Appointments Commission. He said, "The creation of the AHSC is a major advance for patient care, clinical teaching and scientific invention and innovation. The fusion of the different strands of our work and the achievements that we can now expect will lead to significant benefits for patients and greater advances in healthcare than those we could have delivered apart.
"I feel privileged and excited to be offered the opportunity to chair the new Trust. We will be breaking new ground for patient care and academic discovery. We will bring together two of the UK's leading NHS Trusts with one of the world's premier medical research institutions. We will nurture and celebrate the skills, dedication and expertise of our staff and create a world-class Trust worthy of our patients' expectations, and one which collaborates with all parts of the NHS."
Lord Tugendhat's extensive career has encompassed the successful chairmanship of FTSE100 companies and public service as a Member of Parliament, as a working Peer and as one of the UK's European Commissioners. He is currently a Senior Adviser on Lehman Brothers' European Advisory Board, having previously been Chairman of Lehman Brothers in Europe from 2002 to 2006.
Ends
- For more information please contact Nick Samuels, Director of Communications, Transitional Executive Team, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, on 020 8383 3864
- Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and St Mary's NHS Trust were recently rated the second and third best hospitals in the country for clinical performance, quality of care and safety1. Dr Foster Good Hospital Guide 2006 - How healthy is your hospital (April 2007).
- Imperial College is one of Europe's largest medical research institutions and was recently ranked fourth in the world for biomedical research. The Times Higher Education Supplement 2006 world university rankings
- It is expected that Imperial College would sponsor an application for the AHSC to become an Academic Foundation Trust in 2008. This would be subject to a separate consultation.
- This proposal did not include any service changes. Any proposals for service change would require separate business cases and impact assessments and would be subject to the statutory consultation and scrutiny requirements.
- In December 2006 the AHSC partners were selected as one of the UK's 11 Biomedical Research Centres. The award guarantees the partners research funding of £19.5 million per annum for the next five years, and makes the West London BRC the leading centre for the UK. BRCs will be leaders in translating scientific research into benefits for patients.
- In April 2007, St Mary's Hospital, Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trusts and Imperial College London were announced as one of two Research Centres for NHS Patient Safety and Service Quality in the UK. The £4.5 million Research Centre will be based in Imperial College's Biosurgery and Surgical Technology section, at St Mary's Hospital, London.
- A transitional executive team has been appointed to take forward the new Trust from 1st October 2007. It was formed from the existing executives of the merging Trusts. It is anticipated that a permanent executive will be appointed during the next 6 months through open and competitive recruitment processes.
- More information about the AHSC is available online at: www.ahsc.org.uk
About Imperial College London
Rated as the world's ninth best university in the 2006 Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 11,500 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.
Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.
With 66 Fellows of the Royal Society among our current academic staff and distinguished past members of the College including 14 Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medallists, Imperial's contribution to society has been immense. Inventions and innovations include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of our research for the benefit of all continues today with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle climate change and mathematical modelling to predict and control the spread of infectious diseases.
The College's 100 years of living science will be celebrated throughout 2007 with a range of events to mark the Centenary of the signing of Imperial's founding charter on 8 July 1907.
Website: www.imperial.ac.uk
