Left (bottom - top): Professor Silas Nicholls (Chief Executive – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals), Ailsa Brotherton (Chief Strategy and Improvement Officer – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals), Ian Mills (Head of Educational Partnerships – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals).
Right (bottom - top): Scott Leonard (Senior Asset and Property Manager – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals), Sarah Morrison (Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nursing Officer – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals), Lauren O’Brien (Deputy Director of Education – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals), Professor Graham Baldwin (Vice Chancellor – University of Lancashire) Professor St John Crean (Non-Executive Director – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) – University of Lancashire).
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has taken a significant step towards its ambition of achieving University Hospital status after its educational arm, The Health Academy, officially became an Associate School of the University of Lancashire.
The milestone strengthens the long-standing partnership between the Trust and the University and creates a framework for closer collaboration in education, workforce development, research and innovation.
The partnership will support the development of accredited higher education programmes, continuing professional development, research activity and innovation projects while creating new opportunities for staff across both clinical and non-clinical careers. It will also support social value, widening participation and workforce development across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The announcement was marked by the unveiling of new Associate School branding at The Loft at Rosemere, the dedicated learning facility at Royal Preston Hospital that is home to the innovative Practice Based Pathway nursing degree programme.
Delivered jointly by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and the University of Lancashire, the Practice Based Pathway was the first programme of its kind in the UK and has already helped create new routes into nursing through a combination of academic study and workplace learning.
Since launching in 2023, the programme's popularity has grown significantly, prompting the development of dedicated teaching facilities at Royal Preston Hospital and demonstrating the strength of the partnership between the two organisations.
Professor Silas Nicholls, Chief Executive at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: "This is a landmark moment for both organisations and reflects the strength of the relationship we have built over many years.
"The Associate School creates exciting opportunities for our colleagues, learners and local communities. It will allow us to expand accredited education, strengthen professional development, support research and innovation, and create clearer pathways for people to develop rewarding careers in health and care.
"Importantly, it also supports our role as an anchor institution, helping us create opportunities for local people, widen participation and develop the workforce our communities need both now and in the future."
Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lancashire, said: “We are delighted to formalise our partnership with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with the establishment of an Associate School.
“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to improving health outcomes, advancing research and creating meaningful opportunities for students. Through expanded placement opportunities and closer collaboration between our organisations, we will equip the next generation of healthcare professionals with the skills, experience and insight needed to make a real difference to patients and communities.”
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals’ Non-Executive Director and University of Lancashire’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor StJohn Crean, added: "Becoming an Associate School is an important milestone in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals’ journey towards University Hospital status. It strengthens academic partnerships, supports workforce development and ensures our communities continue to receive excellent care through a highly skilled, research-active workforce.
"As organisations, colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. This partnership will help us create even more opportunities for colleagues to learn, develop and progress throughout their careers.”
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by both organisations and will initially focus on continuing professional development, research and knowledge transfer, and innovation and enterprise, with further opportunities to be developed over the coming years.
