University of Cumbria and UHMBT to improve health and opportunities

The University of Cumbria and the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust formalised their partnership in a ceremony at the university's Lancaster campus.

The event was attended by key figures from both organisations, including the university's vice-chancellor, Professor Julie Mennell DL, and the trust's chair, Mike Thomas.

The deputy vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria, Professor Brian Webster-Henderson OBE, said: "We are proud of the long-standing relationship that our university and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust have, and this Memorandum of Understanding puts this on a more formal footing.

"We work closely together on a wide variety of workforce and education issues that strengthen our region’s healthcare workforce with innovations and provide a range of healthcare practitioners to the Trust including nurses, midwives, occupational therapists and diagnostic radiographers to name a few."

The Memorandum of Understanding confirms that the university and the hospital trust will work together for the benefit of the community.

Areas of collaboration will include research and knowledge exchange; developing existing health and care systems that will be able to respond to the changing needs of the population; current and future technologies; education; innovation; building international links; and attracting and retaining workforce talent and students.

The ceremony took place at the University of Cumbria's Lancaster campus (Image: Supplied)

Professor Thomas, chair of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are proud to be working collaboratively with University of Cumbria.

"The overall aim is that we use our collective knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the communities that we serve.

"We now look forward to also developing similar agreements with other local employers who share our passion for improving the health and wellbeing of local people.

"The partnership with the university will enhance the care our colleagues provide to the local community each and every day."

The signing ceremony also included a representative from the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, Cumbria’s first graduate-entry medical school, set to welcome its first students in 2025.

The medical school is a partnership between University of Cumbria and Imperial College London, designed to meet the region’s needs.

It offers a four-year programme combining the MBBS programme at Imperial College London with University of Cumbria’s reputation in training allied health professions.

The Memorandum of Understanding strengthens the existing partnership between the university and the trust in south Cumbria and north Lancashire.

They have previously collaborated on the Nursing Associate programme and the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, a UK first when it launched in 2018.

Scott McLean, the NHS Trust’s chief operating officer, was appointed as a visiting professor at the university’s Institute of Health earlier this year.

The university and trust also create continuing professional development programmes for their employees who wish to expand their knowledge and expertise.

Professor Karen Stansfield, dean of the University of Cumbria Institute of Health, said: "Our teaching and applied research transforms the lives and livelihoods of our students and communities, and we’re delighted to be recognised as one of the best in the country when it comes to outcomes for graduates in employment and further study.

"Embracing our civic responsibilities as a university of and for our region, it is also our priority to partner with employers to equip our graduates with the higher-level skills, knowledge and experiences they need to undertake professional roles that support our communities to thrive now and in the future."