5 July 2021
Economic recovery and healthcare innovation are set to accelerate and grow further as Leeds Academic Health Partnership welcomes new regional members this month.
Sir Roger Marsh OBE DL, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and NP11, and Ian Holmes, Director at West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, will bring strategic advice to support Leeds Academic Health Partnership’s regional priorities.
City leaders set up Leeds Academic Health Partnership to focus on innovative ways to help solve some of the city’s hardest health and care challenges.
In just five years, the Partnership has
- launched the Leeds Health and Care Academy, spearheading a new and shared way of thinking, learning and working together for the 57,000 people employed across Leeds’ health and care sector
- established the Leeds Centre for Personalised Medicine and Health, nationally recognised as a centre of excellence, already attracting more than £8 million in commercial investment
- set up a Healthtech Catalyst, providing wide-ranging support for businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers and health and care innovators to accelerate economic growth and healthtech innovation.
The Partnership brings industry together with the city’s NHS organisations, Leeds City Council, three universities, the City College as well as third sector partners and Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network.
Tom Riordan, Chair of Leeds Academic Health Partnership and Chief Executive, Leeds City Council, said: “Since forming five years ago, the Leeds Academic Health Partnership has achieved significant progress in addressing the health and care challenges we face in Leeds, and in strengthening our local economy.
“We’ve come a long way, but we know that there is more we can do and, with the uncertainty we face at the moment in health and care, and in our economy, we need to strive to do more. With Roger and Ian joining as members, we are better placed to meet those challenges, not just here in Leeds, but also in the wider region.
“I look forward to the opportunities these changes in our partnership bring and to engaging with a wider range of businesses, entrepreneurs, academics and innovators.”
The regional expansion follows the recent West Yorkshire devolution and the Government’s White Paper proposals, which set out the need to strengthen integration across the region’s health and care services.
Sir Roger Marsh, OBE
Sir Roger Marsh said: “I’m delighted to join Leeds Academic Health Partnership (LAHP) as a board member as we continue our collaborative work to support our regional ambitions for healthtech.
“By working together to accelerate healthtech innovation across the Leeds City Region, we can meet the needs of our communities and maximise our contribution to the health and care sector. The Healthtech Catalyst is a great example of this, providing a platform and support for those working in the healthcare sector to turn ideas into reality.”
Ian Holmes
Ian Holmes commented: “I’m delighted to be joining the board to further bring together our partnership of universities, academia and health care innovation and research under a shared purpose of providing high-quality care for everyone living across our area – this is after all what we’re all about.”
Dr Liz Mear, Leeds Academic Partnership Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sir Roger and Ian to our partnership as they will each bring unique and invaluable experience and expertise. Having their regional input is very timely for us.
“It’s an exciting step towards fulfilling our shared goals and the UK’s growing ambition for collaboration between health, academia and industry – ultimately to help people live healthier, wealthier lives.”
Existing ‘delivery partner’ organisations also joined the board this month, including Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Kerry Jackson, Chief Executive, St Gemma’s Hospice and Bill Jones, Executive Principal of Leeds City College and Deputy CEO of Luminate Education Group.
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