RISE May-June 2009 - University of Salford

RISE! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION: SHAPING THE FUTURE
REPORT: HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING
Professor Mike Kagioglou, BuHu / SOBE; Dr Lindsey Dugdill, Faculty of Health and Social Care; Mr. Ricardo Codinhoto,
BuHu / SOBE; and Mrs Kathryn Yates, BuHu / SOBE.
This scoping report addressed the internal capacity and expertise
available in this area at the University of Salford, sources of UK/European
funding available for health, social care and wellbeing related research, key
policy drivers, and future opportunities. Health, social care and wellbeing
have been increasingly topical in the political agenda in the last 8 years.
During this period, in excess of £3.5 billion has been spent improving
schools, hospitals and other public buildings/infrastructure in the North
West. In health and social care, the main drivers are to increase quality
whilst reducing costs, to increase efficiency and effectiveness, improve
patient experience (Darzi, 2008) and fundamentally improve health and
social care / wellbeing outcomes. Thus, in general, health and social care is
moving gradually from “curative” to a more “preventative” approach
towards sustainable wellbeing.
Within the Salford University context, some multi-disciplinary/cross
faculty/health and social care related research has been conducted but
opportunities have not yet realised the potential with respect to the
agenda of opportunity in the field. In particular, there is strong need for
inter and multidisciplinary research across disciplines that cut across the
whole University. There are many funding bodies and opportunities
for health, social care and wellbeing research.
Strategic Recommendations:
1. Establish an advisory/steering leadership group that would take
forward the recommendations and explore future opportunities over
a period of 6 to 12 months.
2. Prioritise funding/training opportunities as part of a coherent
strategy in the areas of Health, Social Care and Wellbeing.
3. Aim to emulate the healthy wellbeing ethos through to all areas of
the University, for example when planning new buildings, catering,
etc. so that we move to a situation where the University of Salford
not only delivers but also embodies this ethos.
4. Engage with and enhance our collaboration with key institutions in
the UK and internationally that have an established influence both in
funding and policy terms, for example University Medical School Kings
College London, Imperial College, among others.
Future Opportunities:
1. Develop a Centre for multidisciplinary research across knowledge
bases, schools and expertises: the study identified many centres
working in the same areas across different contexts.
The report identified the main (high) level research themes to be (in no
particular order): a) Environment; b) Public/Social Health/Care; c)
Education/Training; d) Evidence-Based Approaches; and e) Information and
Communication Technology (ICT). A sixth theme “Patient/ Communities
Experience” is also included and it was considered as a broader crosscutting
theme encompassing the other five themes.
2. Identify and bid for external infrastructure monies in the future that
will allow the development of mock-up rooms (both physical and
virtual), link medical and non-medical practices to enable better
training and education.
3. Internationalise our funding sources: the majority of the existing
funding in the areas of the study are UK-based and there is a need
to engage with international agendas and funding sources.
4. Work more closely with key user-communities and stakeholders
through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and collaborative
work to increase our impact and profile and help alleviate
degreasing research council funding. For example the Media
City project offers great opportunities in this area.
5. New multi-faceted courses need to be developed in particular
around Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and
organisation specific training (work-based learning). There are
also opportunities in the area of professional doctorates.
6. ICT healthcare/workplace health school/centre needed: there is a
missed opportunity in capitalising our ICT competencies across the
University and great advances can be made here at a fast speed.
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