[A]n event which brought together some of the finest creative minds in health was held at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle last week.
The Creative Innovation Zone in North Cumbria event saw around 25 delegates from across the country attend to share knowledge, experience and explore the benefits of creative collaboration in a health setting.
The event was held in collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and hosted by Professor StJohn Crean, UCLan, and Professor Ruben Canelo, director of the Academic Surgical Unit at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Keynote speaker at the event was Professor John Wright, chief investigator and clinical epidemiologist. Professor Wright and Ian Beesley have recently worked on one of the largest health research studies in the world called ‘Born in Bradford’.
Born in Bradford is tracking the health and wellbeing of more than 13,500 children, and their parents born at Bradford Royal Infirmary between March 2007 and December 2010. The study is a powerful way of understanding the many influences that shape our lives and our health outcomes. This has inspired a range of additional research projects including childhood obesity, physical activity, oral health and mental wellbeing.
Professor Ruben Canelo also spoke of how the Trust has recently set up their Academic Surgical Unit (ASU). The ASU, one of only nine in the UK, develops high calibre integrated clinical and academic practice in the north of England.
The ASU is delivered in partnership with UCLan and offers opportunities to strengthen surgical clinical excellence by providing research, training and education.
The event also heard from Ruth Raban, Ruth is partnership development manager for UCLan Innovation and Enterprise, who talked about how UCLan and the Trust can learn from each other for the benefit of patients, not just in Cumbria and Lancashire but across the world.
Professor Canelo said: “This is a fantastic development for the surgical team and the Trust. We have some of the best surgical teaching in the country and strive to be at the forefront of clinical research.
“We recently ran our first Academic Surgical Prize which had over 24 surgical hopefuls entering their research projects and there were some outstanding submissions, choosing a winner was a real challenge.
“This is just the beginning of our work with UCLan and we look to work more closely to ensure the university and the Trust are leading the way in surgical excellence and education.”
