Dorset County Hospital gets share of national clinical research funding

Our NHS Trust has been given £49,000 from the Government

Published 29th Jun 2023

More than £96 million has been awarded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to NHS organisations across England to pay for cutting-edge research equipment and technology.

That includes £49,052 for the Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - but details have yet to be revealed on where that's being spent.

The funding's aimed at driving research and innovation to enable scientific discoveries and new technologies to improve the prevention, management and treatment of disease.

It will pay for a range of innovative equipment, including imaging devices, mobile research vehicles, ultrasound equipment, and specialist fridges and freezers that are essential for storing samples used in research.

This comes as the latest NIHR data shows that almost one million people in England took part in NIHR research in 2022/23 - up 220,000 on pre-pandemic levels.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

“We're giving NHS organisations over £96 million to bolster vital health and care research. Scientists and medical experts will be able to purchase cutting-edge equipment, like mobile CT scanners, imaging devices and ultrasound equipment to help their ground breaking work in the prevention, treatment and management of disease.

“The NHS and its staff have now served us for nearly 75 years and as we celebrate that achievement we want to make sure the health service is leading the way. This investment will also help the NHS continue to cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities.”

Our hospital has been given cash towards research and equipment

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR said:

“The best health and care research requires a number of important elements to come together: world-class researchers, cutting-edge facilities and the generous participation of the public.

“As we celebrate 75 years of our amazing NHS, today’s announcement reminds us that all three elements are firmly in place in this country, and that the UK as a whole remains one of the best places in the world to undertake clinical trials.

“We are so grateful for the continuing support of the many people who take part in research to help shape our future health and care. Thank you to everyone who has done so this year, and I hope even more people will be part of research in the future.”

John Sitzia, Acting Chief Executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network said:

“Thank you to the many incredible people across the country who have given their time to improve health and social care for themselves and others.

“Without their commitment, breakthroughs that will shape treatments and care could not happen. The benefits that health and care research brings are profound, ultimately leading to the prevention of ill health, earlier diagnosis, faster recovery and better outcomes.

“There are opportunities for everyone to take part in research. The new health and care research ‘match-making’ service from Be Part of Research makes it easier than ever for people to find health and care research across every part of the country.”

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