Better Care For Patients From NHS-Pharmaceutical Industry Partnership

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Better care for patients will result from a unique partnership between a primary care trust and the pharmaceutical industry, it was announced today.

A joint exercise to support the training and development of healthcare professionals working with the PCT as well as undergraduate students from all healthcare disciplines is at the heart of a Learning Development Programme being jointly developed by the Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust and pharmaceutical companies working through the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

“Partnership between the public and private sector is an integral part of developing the best possible infrastructure for the benefit of patients,” said Martin Anderson, Director of Commercial Affairs at the ABPI. “This is an excellent example of how working together can provide real benefits for both patients and the NHS.”

“This is truly a unique partnership between the PCT and the pharmaceutical industry and shows our joint enthusiasm and commitment to building opportunities to train staff at all levels to work locally in primary care,” said Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT Chief Executive, Peter Rowe. “The Learning Development Programme will be vital as we continue to develop the skills of our existing workforce and also bring new recruitment into the borough.”

The PCT and pharmaceutical companies, working with the ABPI, are developing a targeted Learning Development Programme to support further improvements in the management of long-term diseases in Wigan Borough.

The aim is to support the training and development of undergraduate students from all disciplines, providing 150 placements for medical, nursing, dentistry and pharmacy students from Manchester University by 2007.

The new programme will be based on the newly established PCT Learning Network, centred on the new Learning Centre at Chandler House, Worsley Mesnes Health Centre, Poolstock Lane, Wigan, that opened in June. It will start in February 2006.

1. The Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT has established the Learning Network with mainstream NHS funding and a generous grant from the North West Deanery. To supplement this, a Trust Fund has been set up to accept educational grants from third parties. The pharmaceutical company Strakan is the first external organisation to make a donation to this Trust Fund.

Strakan was founded in 1995 by Harry Stratford (the founder of Shire pharmaceuticals) and John Kanis, Prof of Metabolic Bone in Sheffield. Originally Strakan was set up as a development company with a small commercial presence. Over time the organisation has grown across Europe with mergers and acquisitions. The new parent company ProStrakan has now commercial operations in most of the major EU countries, with the UK being the largest. It also has a dedicated R&D site specialising in bone in Paris. The UK Commercial operations (still called Strakan) is still relatively small compared to the major multinational pharmaceutical companies and is always looking at innovative ways to work closely with its customers. The Ashton, Leigh and Wigan project is one that is ideal and very innovative for both parties and Strakan is very excited to have such a great opportunity to truly build partnership. Strakan is delighted to be involved with the PCT and ABPI in such a tremendous innovative, groundbreaking way that will reduce health inequalities and improve the health in the borough of Wigan.

2. The Learning Network will be launched on Friday 30 September 2005 at 10.30am by Professor Aidan Halligan, Director of Clinical Governance for the NHS.

3. For further information on this press release please contact John Parkinson, PCT Communications Manager, on 01942-772728 or Richard Ley, ABPI Head of Media Relations, on 020-7747-1410 (mobile: 07715 169727).

4. If you are unable to send a photographer to the launch event, photographs can be provided upon request. Please contact John Parkinson, PCT Communications Manager, on 01942-772728.