A unique working partnership between the NHS and Dundee University has been hailed as a major milestone for Tayside.
Health Secretary Shona Robison launched the Academic Health Science Partnership (AHSP), marking the start of a relationship between the university and NHS Tayside, which will attempt to collaboratively improve the health of people throughout the region.
The AHSP builds on the long- standing collaborations between Dundee University and NHS Tayside and is the first formal Academic Health Science Partnership in Scotland.
It joins an international network of similar centres in the UK, Europe, USA and around the world.
AHSP is jointly supported by the university, NHS Tayside and the Scottish Government.
Ms Robison said: “I am delighted to be here to formally launch the partnership between the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside The Tayside Academic Health Sciences partnership.
“The partnership brings together the delivery of healthcare services, education, quality improvement and research with the purpose of improving the health of the population.
“This is the first example of such a collaboration in Scotland and it shows how academia and the NHS can work together to improve healthcare for patients.”
Professor Jill Belch, university co-director of AHSP, said: “AHSP will create new opportunities and ways to harness the wealth of knowledge, experience and excellence in the university and NHS Tayside to deliver new discoveries and innovation that will improve the health of people and transform healthcare in Tayside and beyond.”
Professor Dilip Nathwani, consultant physician and co-director of AHSP, said: “On behalf of NHS Tayside it is an honour and privilege to lead this multi-professional partnership in Scotland.
“We have a fantastic opportunity here and there is a real sense of excitement across the academic and healthcare professional communities.
“The Academic Health Science Partnership will bring added value and efficiencies in our desire to deliver more effective, innovative and economically prudent healthcare.”
AHSP has been established by Dundee University and NHS Tayside to bring together and build on existing collaborations that improve health and save lives through world-class research, education, service quality and patient safety improvement as well as unique health informatics resources and facilities.
During the visit to Ninewells Hospital and the university’s medical school, the Cabinet Secretary got an insight into university and NHS joint work delivering tangible benefits to patients and population health.