A £3.2 million grant has been given to Newcastle Hospitals which will see a new research institute for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals introduced.
The new institute will create better opportunity to support staff in their research alongside their clinical practice which will have large benefits for both patients and colleagues.
Maurya Cushlow, Executive Chief Nurse, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “This incredibly generous grant is fantastic news and will help us drive forward our innovative vision to introduce a unique Research Institute, harnessing the potential of our growing research active community.
“Having access to targeted support, relevant expertise and dedicated funding, means our NMAHPs can benefit from a truly unique springboard, helping them develop and launch their research ambitions.”
The new money has been awarded to the hospital from the Newcastle Hospitals charity and will provide a ‘innovative avenue to drive forward professional research’.
Jill Baker, Non-Executive Director of the trust and chair of the Charity Committee said: “The Charity is here to help our hospitals to go further by providing financial support for innovative healthcare, education and research initiatives, especially where other funding opportunities are limited. Keeping Newcastle at the forefront of global healthcare innovation and research is a key part of this, and we want to open up research opportunities to as wide a range of the Trust’s staff as possible.
“This grant will open the door for a huge number of our NMAHPs to benefit from and contribute to a wide range of patient-focused research initiatives, the effects of which will be felt locally, nationally, and globally for years to come.”
The new research institute over the next fives years will allow NMAHPs to focus on dedicating their spare time to a range of different research projects as well as provide a whole host of dedicated clinical academic fellowships.
The announcement of the new funding comes shortly after Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer, revealed the Making Research Matter plan and the Health Education England Allied Health Professions’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England.
