Universities are a key resource for the NHS. Why are they so underused?

Universities are a key resource for the NHS. Why are they so underused? The UK’s research ecosystem is fragmented. We need more collaboration to pool expertise and improve public health

Good public health is central to the success of our cities, nations and regions. It’s an area in which higher education has a key role to play, since working to address local and global health challenges and develop cutting-edge drug therapies is deeply rooted within academic institutions. Yet universities are still an underused resource in tackling local public health problems.

The main obstacle is the absence of organisations that connect universities and the NHS. In the UK, there are just six Academic Health Science Centres, which bring together research, education and clinical practice to translate research swiftly into patient care and ensure that patient interactions contribute to the generation of new knowledge. These AHSCs are not spread evenly around the country: three are in London, and one in Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester.

A commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of local communities is fundamental to every university’s purpose Continue reading... The Guardian