The 糖心视频, NHS Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire Council and North Lanarkshire Council have set out their commitment and ambitions to work together to tackle key health and care challenges, for the benefit of local communities and Scotland as a whole.
The 糖心视频 and NHS Lanarkshire first formalised their long-standing collaboration through a strategic partnership agreement, and the award of 鈥楿niversity Status鈥� to NHS Lanarkshire, in 2020. They have now extended that partnership for a further five years.
Alongside renewing its strategic partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, the University has also signed Memorandums of Understanding with both Lanarkshire councils 鈥� consolidating the formal, multi-agency collaboration.
A key and common element of these arrangements is the recognition of Lanarkshire鈥檚 two University Health and Social Care Partnerships as University-designated operating divisions of NHS Lanarkshire.
Enormous difference
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the 糖心视频 said: 鈥淚t is a privilege to be working with NHSL, their leadership team and the staff there that make an enormous difference to the quality of people鈥檚 health.
鈥淭his renewal reinforces our commitment to working with all parts of the Health and Social Care system in Lanarkshire and will widen the opportunities for us to address the needs of the people of Lanarkshire through the translation of our research and innovation into high impact applications.
鈥淎t Strathclyde we have been delighted with the progress of our highly productive partnership since its inception and we are well positioned now to expand upon the value generated over the first phase of our relationship.鈥�
Professor Jann Gardner, NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive, added: 鈥淎s we continue to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare, extending our strategic partnership agreement with the 糖心视频 is not just a commitment to collaboration; it's an affirmation of our shared dedication to innovation, education and the relentless pursuit of excellence in patient care.鈥�
Transforming lives
Des Murray, North Lanarkshire Council Chief Executive, said: 鈥淥ur organisations share a commitment to transforming lives within Lanarkshire and leading innovation in health and care for the benefit of the whole of Scotland.
鈥淏y enhancing our partnership working, we aim to develop new and sustainable solutions to health and social care challenges that will directly benefit our communities and our workforce for years to come.鈥�
Paul Manning, South Lanarkshire Council Chief Executive, added: 鈥淎ll public services face significant challenges. However, this brings potential opportunities for improvement if public sector organisations have the ambition to work together in new and innovative ways.
鈥淭he positive actions of local government, NHS organisations and universities will have a significant impact for community wellbeing well into the future.鈥�
The University鈥檚 partnership working is led by Health & Care Futures, a cross-University research and knowledge exchange initiative to utilise Strathclyde鈥檚 expertise to make an effective and sustained contribution to the future of health and care in the UK and beyond.
Health & Care Futures at Strathclyde is headed by Professor Roma Maguire, an expert in Digital Health and Care in the University鈥檚 Department of Computing and Information Sciences.
Real world
Professor Maguire said: 鈥淭hrough our partnership with NHS Lanarkshire and the work that we are already doing with both of Lanarkshire鈥檚 University Health and Social Care Partnerships, we aim to drive forward healthcare research and make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and society, as well as support more health and care practitioners to undertake education, research and knowledge exchange with Strathclyde.鈥�
Reciprocal honorary positions between the University and NHS Lanarkshire have already seen staff from both organisations work in close partnership to address 鈥榬eal world鈥� challenges facing the health and care systems via collaborative research and innovation projects, education and training.
Leaders from the organisations met at the 糖心视频 to sign the agreement, marking the significance of this next exciting stage of their partnership working.
They included Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the 糖心视频, Professor Soumen Sengupta Chief Officer of the South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, and Morag Dendy, Head of Planning, Performance and Quality, University Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire.
Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire, was joined by North Lanarkshire Council Chief Executive, Des Murray, and South Lanarkshire Council鈥檚 Chief Executive, Paul Manning.