A new partnership to improve population health, boost economic growth and create better health and care outcomes for patients and wider society has formally launched.
Wessex Health Partners (WHP) is a strategic alliance of organisations in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which aims to accelerate better health and care through research, innovation and training.
The University of Portsmouth is one of the founders of this unique partnership, which includes NHS organisations, universities and the region's health innovation network, Health Innovation Wessex.
The collaboration agreement, signed by the leaders of each of the founding partners, was recently finalised, officially launching the alliance.
It sets out the commitment made by the founding partners to work together to achieve shared ambitions. These include improving the region's collective ability to tackle the greatest challenges facing the Wessex health and care system, generating greater collaborative and interdisciplinary research, and speeding the development and adoption of innovation at scale.
As one of WHP's founding partners, we are excited to contribute to this vital programme of work, which will see us harness our excellence in research, innovation and training to make a positive contribution to our region's healthcare.
Professor Sherria Hoskins, University of Portsmouth Provost
Through its established connections with the life sciences industry, WHP also aims to drive economic growth, creating jobs and attracting investment to the region.
Professor Sherria Hoskins, University of Portsmouth Provost, said: "As one of WHP's founding partners, we are excited to contribute to this vital programme of work, which will see us harness our excellence in research, innovation and training to make a positive contribution to our region's healthcare.
"With the upcoming launch of our new branch Medical School with King's College London, we will be able to further play our part in supporting the health of our local community and wider society."
Professor William Rosenberg, Chair of WHP, added: "With today's formal launch, our founding members make a commitment to work together as Wessex Health Partners and tackle the health and care challenges experienced locally, but also in the rest of the UK and much of the world.
"From work to create a greener and more sustainable health service, to utilising advances in genomic medicine to support improvements in diagnosis, treatments and prevention, WHP will focus on understanding health and care needs and identifying where research, innovation and training can provide a solution.
"Together, we want to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population, helping people to live happy and healthy lives. With its state-of-the-art research facilities, cutting-edge centres, world-leading researchers and expert innovators, Wessex is an exciting place to deliver research and develop innovations which have global impact."
To learn more about WHP, visit the website or contact the team. For regular updates, you can also connect with WHP on LinkedIn and X, or sign up to the mailing list.
