We have a long history of working with our regional hospitals, from joint research projects to student placement opportunities and professional development for staff.
The university hospital status, given to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (formerly the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts), formalises this relationship and will lead to additional benefits and partnership working.
BU students from across healthcare disciplines undertake placements at the hospitals, giving them the chance to put their learning into practice with support and guidance from a mentor or practice supervisor.
Many graduates go on to work for the hospitals, such as Cancer Care Matron at University Hospitals Dorset Marie Miller, a BSc (Hons) Nursing and MA Advanced Practice graduate.
She said: “It’s really exciting that we can move forward and collaborate on all our working across the three trusts across Dorset and with the university to increase research and education to ensure that we can improve the care for our patients and the education for our staff.”
Hospital staff also have the opportunity to learn here at BU. We are the hospitals’ leading Higher Education CPD provider, with the vast majority of their continuing professional development (CPD) activities organised through BU.
With our shared goal of helping people live better for longer, we collaborate on a number of research projects – tackling everything from nurse retention to supporting patients with hip osteoarthritis.
The hospital match-funds several PhD studentships and there are a number of staff who work between BU and the hospitals through visiting positions, committee memberships and joint appointments.
This includes Dr. Jamie Franklin, a Consultant Radiologist at University Hospitals Dorset and Head of the Institute of Medical Imaging & Visualisation (IMIV) at BU.
He said: “It’s a very exciting period for period for my professional practice and the university and for all of us working in Dorset in a new model for healthcare delivery in the east of the county.
“The merger will bring clinical research and professional development into the heart of clinical service delivery within the NHS and provide more opportunities for clinicians and health professionals to be involved in both teaching and research.”
The state-of-the-art specialist facilities in the new Bournemouth Gateway Building – including an MRI scanner - will also facilitate further collaboration, training and research projects between BU and University Hospitals Dorset.
As University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) begin this exciting new chapter, our partnership will enable us to continue working together for the benefit of our staff, students and society.
We will have greater access to funding and clinical trials, greater ability to share our resources and expertise and greater opportunity to increase our research collaborations.
Joining together provides us with an exciting and unique opportunity to take the best of BU and UHD and make a real difference to the health of the region, nation and the world.