NHS and academia across Forth Valley are joining forces in a bid to improve patient care and health research, and transform learning and development opportunities for students and health and social care staff.

The Forth Valley University College NHS Partnership brings together NHS Forth Valley with the University of Stirling and Forth Valley College.

A new regional skills academy will be created to deliver what the partners say they hope will be a world-class curriculum of clinical, health improvement and social care education.

Following that, the ambition is for a quality improvement and people academy, supporting people's career development and leadership skills.

The partners say they want their research work to focus on health and inequality challenges facing local communities – initially to help people with type 2 diabetes to manage their condition better.  Already, Stirling university academics and NHS clinicians are investigating how understanding hydration during exercise can help patients with type I diabetes control their glucose levels.

Ultimately, the partners say they want to develop a clinical research facility and have the sort of joint appointments across NHS and academia that are already common in teaching hospitals.

NHS Forth Valley Chief Executive, Cathie Cowan says the agreement is possible due to the long-standing relationship with the university and college:

"This exciting new partnership will build on this work and bring forward a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience to help unlock research funding and develop new learning opportunities for our current and future workforce.

“It will also help us trial new tests and treatments and drive forward innovations to improve the health and wellbeing of local people across Forth Valley and beyond."

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, believes the partnership will benefit the entire community:

“This visionary new partnership between three major organisations in the Forth Valley sees us formally unite in our ambition to deliver evidence-based innovations that will make a substantial difference to the health of people across the region.

“Our vision is for the Forth Valley University College NHS Partnership to stand as an exemplar, both nationally and internationally, of how working collaboratively can lead to substantial improvements in health and social care at a regional level.

“Not only will we look to meet the challenges facing the sector and local communities, this collaboration will also have a measurable impact on Forth Valley’s regional economy and society, creating more opportunities for students and staff to thrive and contributing to a healthier and happier society.”

The Principal of Forth Valley College Professor Ken Thomson describes the partnership as exciting, innovative and progressive for current and future staff:

“The opportunities that this partnership will provide to access new learning pathways leading to employment within the NHS are immense, especially within existing curriculum areas such as nursing and social care, but also in new developments such as life sciences and physiotherapy.

“Our school learners who attend college as part of our School College Partnership will also benefit from this partnership, as it will ensure that pupils are exposed to the wide variety of job roles across health and social care and will be supported by the college to start on a relevant learning journey whilst still attending school.

“Finally, I would just like to say that we are very proud of the college’s involvement in this partnership, as we are convinced it will support the regional workforce development. It will assist NHS Forth Valley to plan their future workforce requirements and make sure that Forth Valley College can help them ‘Make Healthcare Learning Work’ in Forth Valley for generations to come.”

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