Member Article

Health Network North launches to boost North East healthcare

To help tackle the obstacles healthcare professionals face in working with the private sector, a new network has been established to boost the industry across the North East and North Cumbria region.

Health Network North is being launched to provide a forum for members, set to encourage collaboration and help broker engagement between NHS organisations, academia and those working privately.

The Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN), the organisation behind the network’s creation, recently held an event to celebrate the launch of the Network at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle upon Tyne.

At the event, Dr Arnab Basu, Chair of the AHSN, gave an insight into the Network and its aspirations.

Dr Basu, who is also CEO of Kromek Ltd, said: “Health Network North will offer opportunities to both healthcare and industry professionals and provide an ideal platform to cultivate ideas, innovations and relationships that will ultimately contribute to better patient care across the region.

“The AHSN is ideally placed to bring the health services and industry together and be the interface because of our long standing relationship with industry in the health sector and our close relationship with the healthcare services.

“My background is in business and I know how important forums like this can be in facilitating connections, particularly in the healthcare sector. It was fantastic to see business and healthcare leaders come together to mark the launch of the Network.”

Seamus O’Neill, AHSN NENC Chief Executive Officer, said: “Improving the health of the region and encouraging economic growth is at the heart of what we do. We have created Health Network North with this in mind, as it will provide a forum to blend healthcare professionals with the private sector. We know that the healthcare sector in the region can be difficult to navigate and the Network will help members gain insight and increase engagement with this rapidly growing and vibrant community.

“The ultimate aim of the Network is to stimulate innovation and increase growth and we will do this by offering members support through events, workshops, brokering introductions to key NHS organisations and much more.”

The Network will offer members access to dedicated workshops, profile display on the Network website, introductions to the NHS, regular updates regarding funding opportunities and healthcare news, intellectual property support, and access to events delivered by the AHSN’s partner organisation RTC North Ltd.

There will be a cost to non AHSN members and SMEs of £250 plus VAT for an annual subscription.