Delivering £2.5m research centre

The 2.45 million initiative will bring together expertise from a range of health services including nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, radiography and dietetics for the first time.

The project is aimed at improving services in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, mental health problems, strokes, and the health of the young and elderly.

The new Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research will fill a major gap in Scotland’s health research, and the funding, announced by the Scottish Executive today, is the largest research investment for these professions in the UK.

The centre will bring healthcare specialists from Queen Margaret University College, University of Edinburgh and Napier University to work in partnership with NHS Lothian, NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire.

The project will support the research work in three main areas: maximising recovery from acute illness and trauma; early years and parenting; and improving the management of enduring conditions.

Other health professions that will be involved in the centre’s research include podiatry, art therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and nutrition.

It is also expected the project, which will be based across all the institutes involved, will improve recruitment to these services by offering more options for "cross-over" careers between academia and healthcare.

Dr Marie Donaghy, head of the School of Health Sciences at the lead partner institution, Queen Margaret University College, said: "Nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions (AHPs) have really suffered from a lack of investment in research. The majority of research has tended to be specific to individual professions.

"However, in reality, people often need a range of co-ordinated health services to fully aid their recovery.

"This grant will allow the new centre to pull together these professionals to conduct research which will relate to the delivery of integrated healthcare."

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said: "Scotland has traditionally been an international leader, not only for excellence in medical research, but also in translating that directly into major benefits for patients.

"Nurses, midwives and AHPs are playing increasingly important roles in delivering care and have a major part to play in improving patient outcomes.

"I recognise the enormous intellectual contribution these professions make to healthcare. This funding will enhance that ability by facilitating nurses, midwives and members of the allied health professions to undertake research which will make a real difference to the people of Scotland."

The centre’s work will aim to tackle some of the most serious healthcare issues affecting Scotland today.

Professor Beth Alder, director of research in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Napier University, said: "These main programmes of research relate to the Scottish Executive’s healthcare priorities of mental health, cardiovascular disease and stroke, cancer, older people and public/child health."

An international recruitment drive is to begin immediately to appoint a director to lead the project.

Dr Heather Cubie, director of research and development at NHS Lothian University Hospitals Division, said: "This will be an extremely exciting and dynamic project to be involved in.

"The centre will help to shape the future of nursing, midwifery and the allied health profession by bringing together a critical mass of expert researchers to investigate common and complex issues leading to significant improvements in the provision of Scottish healthcare."

Funding for the project has been provided by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, the Scottish Executive Health Department, NHS Scotland and the Chief Scientist’s Office.