Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety,
Women's Health and Mental Health (): Today I am pleased to
announce Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funding of
nearly £30 million through the National Institute for Health and
Care Research (NIHR) for capital equipment, technology and
modular buildings to support NHS trusts in England to deliver
high-quality research to improve the health of the population.
This large-scale investment will support 36 NHS trusts to develop
and deliver research which aims to reduce early death from major
conditions and improve access to high-quality health and care.
The funding will increase NHS capacity to deliver commercial
clinical trials which bring innovative medicines to patients
earlier and maximise our potential to lead the world in clinical
trials. This includes investment in modular buildings to expand
the footprint for research in hospitals, many of which are in
rural and coastal areas. It is important that everyone,
regardless of where they live, can access the latest innovations
in the health and care system through research.
Funding is going to NHS trusts the length and breadth of England,
from Harrogate to Plymouth. A mobile research unit in Hull will
increase participation in trials in East Yorkshire; and modular
buildings will expand capacity for clinical research in Bradford,
Essex, Exeter and Derby.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is receiving funding for a mobile
x-ray unit to increase their capability to carry out trials that
are normally only available in large research units. This is a
huge step forward for a district general hospital, bringing
research closer to the communities which they serve.
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust were successful in
their application for funding for equipment which applies red and
near infra-red light to injuries or lesions to improve wound and
soft tissue healing. This will allow children to participate in
studies at their regular clinic, reducing travel and reaching
underserved communities.
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and East Lancashire
Hospitals NHS Trust will expand their capacity for commercial
trials in conditions such as dementia with a standalone pharmacy
space and a pharmacy dispensary, respectively, to enable studies
in new medicines. The Royal Marsden have received funding for
equipment to increase capability and capacity in advanced therapy
areas in oncology across commercial and non-commercial
portfolios.
This significant funding will support cutting edge research to
improve population health and support commercial research
delivery in NHS settings for both the benefit of patients but
also the economic growth of the country, positioning the UK as an
attractive place for innovative companies to invest in research.
While the equipment or technology is primarily for research, when
not in use in this way, equipment such as MRI Scanners will be
used for clinical care. This will bolster the capacity of the
health system to carry out procedures such as diagnostic testing
to inform care and reduce the time taken to treatment, maximising
the benefit from this investment.
