Patients across the North East are set to benefit from more than £4.4 million awarded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to pay for cutting-edge research equipment and technology.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded £161,000 alongside £104,000 for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
The investment will fund state-of-the-art equipment to process blood samples for use in early phase paediatric cancer research, optical imaging technology for research into eye conditions and specialist equipment to study areas such as respiratory disease and reproductive health. The funding will also help provide a new CT scanner for the North East that will offer high quality imaging for a range of research areas, such as diagnostics.
The new equipment is backed by £96 million of NIHR funding being invested in 93 NHS organisations across England. This funding will drive research and innovation to enable scientific discoveries and new technologies to improve the prevention, management and treatment of serious and long-term conditions. 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.
As well as supporting the NIHR’s cutting-edge research, the awarded £96 million will enhance the ability of NHS organisations to secure further future investment from research funders. This will reaffirm the UK’s position as one of the most attractive places in the world for innovative companies to invest in research.
MP for Stockton South, Matt Vickers said:
“The Government has shown an enormous commitment to our local NHS trusts, with more than £40million of investment across James Cook and North Tees with new Radiology equipment and a new respiratory unit. We are also welcoming a new Mental Health Crisis Hub which will help those when they need it most.
“This equipment will be especially beneficial when used in conjunction with our new Diagnostic Hospital, which is being delivered thanks to £20 million Government funding.
“Already projected to perform 104,000 lifesaving checks a year, this equipment may be able to increase this through efficiency and accuracy. This will further reduce the strain on North Tees and James Cook Hospitals.
“The NHS is an enormous asset to the people of Stockton South, and I’m grateful that we are able to strengthen our offering through the frequent funding opportunities by the Government.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“From Devon to Liverpool, 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.”
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."
