The University of Kent has been chosen by the NHS to be a founder member of a new Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) for Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
NHS England announced on 23 May, 2013 that it was establishing 15 new AHSNs, which would ‘have the potential to transform health and healthcare by putting innovation at the heart of the NHS’.
The University will be closely involved in the development of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex AHSN as a founding member of the network’s transition board. Its academics will also become involved in collaborative projects with healthcare practitioners and other agencies once the network begins its work.
Professor Peter Jeffries, Director of KentHealth, the University department that co-ordinates its regional health-related activities, said: ‘I am very pleased to confirm that the University is now playing a full role in the healthcare landscape across our region and look forward to Kent academics participating in the many activities that the new network will foster.
‘The aim of the AHSN in bringing industry, healthcare practitioners and the universities together resonates perfectly with that of KentHealth.’
NHS England’s Chief Executive, Sir David Nicholson, said: ‘The NHS is full of brilliant people with brilliant ideas. To spread ideas right across the NHS means working collaboratively with all those who have an interest.
‘AHSNs offer a more systematic delivery mechanism so that innovation spreads quickly and successfully through the NHS, making the best possible use of precious NHS resources and in ensuring the most advanced treatments, technologies and medicines are available to patients.’
The 15 AHSNs will now be given a licence to operate and will cover the whole of England.
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