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Surrey organisations form innovative partnership to improve health outcomes for county residents
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The University of Surrey, Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB), Surrey County Council, and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) have launched the innovative Surrey Academic Health & Care Partnership (SAHCP), a collaborative designed to improve health outcomes in Surrey through innovation and research.
Specifically, the Surrey Academic Health and Care Partnership (SAHCP) will provide critical links to research and innovation for existing health and care partners and help support a research-driven health and care ecosystem focused on achieving the best possible health outcomes for the people of Surrey.
The new partnership will bring those involved into a formal body to facilitate greater connections to research and innovation. The Partnership will help tackle issues in population health, social care and primary care, as well as maintain close collaboration with local acute hospital providers.
Professor Andrew Rhodes, Joint Chief Medical Officer, said:
Surrey Heartlands is excited about the prospects that this new Academic Health and Care Partnership can bring for the residents of Surrey.
Our emerging clinical strategy recognises the importance of keeping people healthy and supporting residents in managing their conditions so they don't need to be admitted to hospital.
Defining new ways of treating patients through research and innovation will be key to delivering this strategy and making sure we can cope with increasing demand.
Bringing together partners in academia, the local authority and others with external innovators will support us on this journey and help us deliver the most up-to-date healthcare for local people.
A key first step is the launch of a £300,000 funding pot, which will be used to fund a range of evidence-based projects focused on improving health outcomes for local people. Bids are welcomed from all local health and care partners, as well as wider system partners and businesses around using the latest medical technology, innovative use of digital tools and redesigning services. The goal is to make a real difference in people's lives and support economic growth through meaningful innovation.
The official call for bids will be launched towards the end of July and will open for six weeks, with applications to be submitted by the end of August. Selected projects will be informed/awarded funding by late September/ early October.
More details on the SAHCP and the new fund
Find out more on the University of Surrey website