Member Article

Growth plan for West Midlands’ healthcare sector

The Health and Wealth Economic Summit at the NEC Birmingham, which revealed why healthcare will be a key driver in wealth creation and economic growth in the West Midlands, saw the launch of a seven point growth plan for the region.

Developed by the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN), the growth plan addresses the direct and indirect links between health and wealth and sets out the WMAHSN’s commitment to work to ensure that the region is viewed as a centre of healthcare excellence, to attract investment, a highly skilled workforce, research funding and to cluster innovative businesses.

WMAHSN’s Commercial Director Tony Davis explained: “By bringing together the public and private sectors at the Economic Summit, we have been able to demonstrate how the growth plan can work to make a positive impact on the local economy. We’ve talked about the role of the NHS as an intelligent customer, and delegates learned about the investment and innovation opportunities in the region. We also heard from companies that are using innovation to increase productivity. In day two, we talked about how we can use the EU funding and work with the LEPs to create 21st century healthcare jobs in the region.

“The growth plan sets out how we will develop these to ensure that the region benefits, not just in terms of improved healthcare, but economically too.”

In summary:

1. The WMAHSN will at all times promote the West Midlands as the place to invest and deliver life science and healthcare innovation.
2. The WMAHSN is committed to build on its existing strengths and partnerships between universities, the wider research base, industry and the NHS to establish a cohesive system of translational research and development.
3. The WMAHSN will be proactive in attracting, developing and rewarding the best talent in life sciences and healthcare.
4. The WMAHSN will work with the entire life science and healthcare innovation ecosystem to produce a regional population that is more productive and more economically active.
5. The WMAHSN is committed to working with both the NHS and local authorities in the adoption of innovation and best practice to improve productivity, in turn empowering them to deliver more health benefit for a given public resource.
6. The WMAHSN will endeavour to support the export of innovation, ideas and experience globally and will also work with UK industry in providing new global market opportunities.
7. The WMAHSN will facilitate the development of a more economically effective health system, with the WMAHSN supporting ‘lead customer’ activity within its membership.

The speakers included Minister for Life Sciences George Freeman MP, CEO of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Andy Hardy, Frances Pennell-Buck from UK Trade and Investment, Mark Ebbens from GE Healthcare Finnamore, Theo Arvanitis from the Institute of Digital Healthcare, Jacqui Smith, Chair of UHB, Katie Trout from Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, Michael Wood from NHS European Office and Mandy Shanahan, Health Education West Midlands.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Midlands Aerospace Alliance .