King's Health Partners Named As One Of UK's First Academic Health Science Centers

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 11 Mar 2009 - 3:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions

King's Health Partners - a unique collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts - has today been formally accredited as one of the UK's first Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs).

King's Health Partners is a strategic alliance which draws on world leading expertise in both physical and mental health care. It consists of King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts. The partnership includes seven hospitals and over 150 community based services, is responsible for seeing 2 million patients each year, has 25,000 employees and 19,500 students, and a £2 billion annual turnover.

Academic Health Science Centre is the UK government's description of the research and healthcare structure adopted by many of the world's leading academic institutions and hospitals. King's Health Partners will combine the best of basic and translational research, clinical excellence and world-class teaching to deliver groundbreaking advances in physical and mental healthcare.

"Our achievement in becoming one of the UK's first AHSCs is testament to the comprehensive range of world class expertise that exists across King's Health Partners", says Professor Robert Lechler, Interim Director of King's Health Partners. "The challenge ahead is to make full use of our potential to revolutionise the way that healthcare is designed and delivered, both for the people we serve locally and the wider population."

Today's accreditation by the Department of Health follows a thorough assessment which included an interview conducted by an international panel of healthcare experts.

Plans are underway to appoint an independent chair and a permanent director.

Notes:

For more information visit http://www.kingshealthpartners.org

For more information about other AHSCs accredited by the Department of Health visit http://www.dh.gov.uk

King's College London is rated in the top 25 universities in the world. It is the largest centre for healthcare education in Europe (with more applications per place in medicine than any other) and provides education and research in the widest range of subjects allied to medicine of any London institution.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust is made up of two of London's best known teaching hospitals. The hospitals have a long history, dating back almost 900 years, and have been at the forefront of medical innovation and progress since they were founded. Both have built on these traditions and continue to have a reputation for clinical and research excellence.

King's College Hospital, established more than 160 years ago, is an NHS Foundation Trust and one of London's largest and busiest teaching hospitals. Situated in the heart of south east London, King's College Hospital has a unique profile of strong local services and a focused portfolio of outstanding specialist services.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a history that dates back to the founding in 1247 of Bethlem Royal Hospital - the oldest psychiatric institution in the world. The Trust provides the most extensive portfolio of mental health services in the UK, supported by internationally recognised training and research.

Source: Clair McInally
King's College London