Formal collaboration agreements between University and Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals

There has been a long history of joint working between the University of Oxford and the NHS hospitals in Oxford, greatly benefitting both patients and the wider community.

Existing collaborations include the ambitious research programmes established through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust (ORH) and at the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in musculoskeletal disease at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust (NOC). These set the standard in translating science and research into new and better NHS clinical care.

The University and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust have agreed to formalise their relationship by entering into a Joint Working Agreement and a Trade Mark Licence. These will provide a formal structure and governance to the relationship between the two organisations, enhancing the ability to share ideas and activities and to function as a joint venture committed to the pursuit of excellence in patient care, research and education.

The intent is to complete these agreements at the same time as the ORH’s integration with the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust, which is planned to take place later in the year (subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Health).

Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, said: 'We welcome this opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the hospitals further, forming the tight links which support the best teaching of medical students, excellence in medical research and the delivery of quality healthcare.

'The University has long worked closely with the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals. These new agreements will recognise our strong mutual interests and will see us extend the way we work together, with benefits for the care which patients receive now and research on the treatments they may receive in the future.'

Sir Jonathan Michael, Chief Executive of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'The collaboration between the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals and the University underpins the quality of the care that is provided to patients; the delivery of high-quality research bringing innovation from the laboratory bench to the bedside; and the delivery of high-quality education and training of doctors. The decision by the Trust Board and the University Council to enter into these formal agreements reinforces this very important relationship.”