The annual joint meeting with Association of UK University Hospitals (AUKUH) was held in Bath on 14 and 15 May. The theme of the meeting was ‘Driving Recovery; Maintaining the balance between education, research, innovation and service delivery in the economic downturn’.
University Hospital Chief Executives and Medical School Deans met with colleagues from industry to consider the economic realities of the downturn, its likely policy implications, and to determine how health/academic collaborations might help drive recovery.
The event was facilitated by Laurie McMahon, Professor in Health Policy at City University London and Director of Loop2. Discussions were lively and constructive, and delegates enjoyed presentations from 8 key speakers including Sir Bruce Keogh, Department of Health; Professor James Barlow, Imperial College London; Professor Robert Lechler, King’s College London; and Mark Britnell, Department of Health.
Following the meeting, a report was produced and an action plan developed. The action plan sets out four key aims that Medical Schools, University Hospitals and partner organisations should be working towards. The document also suggests activities or actions addressing these aims and gives examples of current good practice in member Trusts and Medical Schools.
The document also suggests a number of actions to be taken forward on a national level which will require input from the Department of Health, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the National Institute for Health Research. At a local level, all Medical Schools and AUKUH member Trusts have committed to working towards the aims set out in the action plan which are to:
- Improve quality, increase efficiency and reduce costs through alignment of Medical School and Trust activities
- Improve the efficiency and quality of patient care pathways by strengthening local health, education and research relationships that encompass both Primary and Secondary Care
- Make the UK more attractive for Research and Development investment
- Harness innovation in healthcare, education and research to drive wealth creation
Members have been asked to provide an update on progress made against these aims at the 2010 joint meeting.
A summary of the report can now be downloaded:
Driving Recovery Summary