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For patients, staff, visitors and volunteers
Page 2 Pensioners’ pledge to dignity in care
Page 5 Good to talk about organ donation
OCTOBER 2016
Page 7 Raising awareness of breast cancer
Sharing our experiences Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, culture, contributions and experiences of colleagues at the Trust. Deputy Associate Director for Nursing, Carlton Murdock shares his story on page 3.
Research boost will benefit patients The Trust which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham will receive £12m from the Government as part of a record package of research funding announced by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Twenty NHS and university partnerships across England have each been awarded funding, through the National Institute for Health Research, boosting growth in cities across the country. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust will receive £12,120,962 for research into inflammatory arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory sarcopaenia. As a result of the last round of funding, doctors and scientists from Birmingham were able to launch a trial of a ground-breaking new drug designed to clear evidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from the liver. 48 weeks of treatment cleared symptoms in 40% of patients – giving hope to patients living with the condition. Dame Julie Moore, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) said: “We are delighted the Trust has been recognised for its expertise in collaborative research and the huge benefits this brings to patient care and outcomes. “Our track record of close working with
international organisations, industry, the University of Birmingham and other academic partners, puts us at the forefront of the Life Sciences agenda to deliver the full circle of translational care – from bench to bedside. “Drawing on our unique population demographic, we can deliver meaningful results that will lead to lives being saved and improved quality of life, for the wider NHS and healthcare economy.” The bid for funding was supported by Birmingham Health Partners, a collaboration between UHB, the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Birmingham Women’s Hospital. The funding announcement means mental health, dementia and antimicrobial resistance will be among the research projects supported by a record £816 million investment in NHS research. Leading NHS clinicians and top universities will benefit from new world class facilities and support services built by the five-year funding package – the largest ever investment into health research. Each of the twenty Biomedical Research Centres will host the development of new, ground-breaking treatments, diagnostics, prevention and care for patients in a wide range
of diseases like cancer and dementia. Mental health research will see funding increase to nearly £70 million, dementia to over £45 million, deafness and hearing problems will receive over £15 million and antimicrobial resistance research rises to around £45 million. The UK is already a world leader in pioneering medical breakthroughs and this record investment will ensure this strong tradition continues. It is estimated that for every £1 the Department of Health invests, hospitals/universities will generate £6 – from public funders of research, charities and industry partners – a boost for the economy. Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said: “The UK has so often led the world in health research – from the invention of the smallpox vaccine to the discovery of penicillin and the development of DNA sequencing. Today, we are making sure the UK stays ahead of the game by laying the foundations for a new age of personalised medicine. “We are supporting the great minds of the NHS to push the frontiers of medical science so that patients in this country continue to benefit from the very latest treatments and the highest standards of care.”
Hundreds of patients, relatives and health professionals have paid tribute to the dedication and care given by staff and volunteers across the Trust by submitting their nominations for this year’s annual Best in Care Awards. The awards, which were established in 2009, aim to recognise those staff, members and volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure our patients receive the best in care. However, it is not just those providing frontline services that are celebrated. The awards also honour those behind the scenes who contribute to the smooth running of the organisation by providing administrative support, training, logistics and research services to name but a few. Amongst the awards will be the coveted ‘Brighter Futures Award’ which celebrates those who are creating a better future for our community through training or work with students, improving relations with local residents or setting up initiatives to make Birmingham healthier. The 2016 winners will be announced at a sparkling ceremony on Thursday 24 November at Tally Ho in Edgbaston, where former patients, healthcare experts and local personalities will be presenting the worthy winners with certificates and their prizes. UHB’s Chief Executive, Dame Julie Moore, said: “The Best in Care Awards is, by far, my favourite event of the year and is one of the most inspirational. Every year we receive hundreds of nominations and this year has been no different. However, this year has been one of the most challenging the NHS has faced in recent times, therefore to have received over 400 nominations is a real testament to the hard work and dedication of so many to continue to provide exceptional care – and what that means to our patients. My thanks to all the nominees for their efforts.” See centre pages for a full list of this year’s nominees. This year’s shortlist will be announced in the next edition of News@QEHB and online in November.
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