Dr Robert Winter, first Director of the Academic Health Science System

Dr Robert Winter OBE MA MD FRCP, first Director of the Academic Health Science System

CUHP Director welcomes development of Academic Health Science Networks

Dr Robert Winter, Director - Academic Health Science System at Cambridge University Health Partners, says that the development of Academic Health Science Networks announced in the publication of The Innovation Review "will present a unique opportunity to align education, clinical research, informatics, innovation, training and education and healthcare delivery."

CUHP contributed to the NHS Innovation review led by Sir Ian Carruthers by authoring, at his request, a paper on behalf of the five Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs), proposing expansion of the current AHSC model.

"In this paper we pointed out that the potential national value of AHSCs lies in their role as the principal sites for delivery of the tripartite mission (clinical effectiveness, education and training, and research), to which innovation should be added as a fourth."

"We suggested that a system based on a number of local Academic Health Science Networks, to which each NHS organisation should aspire to be affiliated, could provide a mechanism for delivery and implementation. During the review process there was widespread support for this proposal."

"Accordingly, a number of Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) will be established across the country to work with the AHSCs to improve population and health outcomes by translating research into practice and developing and implementing integrated health care services. AHSNs will identify high-impact innovations and spread their use at pace and scale across their networks."