Research for Patient Benefit Showcase

Researchers are celebrating the success of the first collaborative conference between the University of Bath and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust.

The Research for Patient Benefit Showcase event, held at the RUH, brought together researchers and clinicians from a wide variety of fields, including Critical Care, Rheumatology, Anaesthesia, Oncology and Haematology, Respiratory and Parkinson's Disease and Ageing.

Dr Tim Craft, RUH Director of Research and Innovation, said: "This was a really exciting opportunity to meet colleagues from the University and to showcase some of the collaborative work that's already making medical advances and benefiting patients. The Trust and the University both have strong reputations for participating in national and worldwide research that helps to make vital contributions to public health and medical progress."

The conference also heard from guests speakers from the Trust and the University, experts in their fields whose work is already seeing advances in patient care through research and technology.

RUH Consultant Cardiologist Dr Dan Augustine and Dr Oliver Peacock, from the Department for Health at the University of Bath, discussed how new technology, such as wearable devices, can improve cardiac rehabilitation.

Dr Raj Sengupta, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD), was joined by Matthew Young from the University's CAMERA unit, the Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications. Together the two organisations have helped to develop an app that allows arthritis patients to monitor their symptoms on a smartphone, helping to detect flare-ups and allow quicker treatment.

Developments in mechanical engineering in surgery were explained by Professor Grey Giddins, RUH Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. He spoke about how drill guidance systems can be crucial, particularly in hand surgery, in improving the quality of life for patients.

Dr Sarah Leaver, RUH Business Development Manager, said: "It was great to see so many researchers and clinicians coming together to look at some of the latest developments in research-based patient care, and sharing ideas and talking about areas that might benefit from mutual exploration. The event was a big success - guests told us they really enjoyed it and found it worthwhile – and we hope to repeat it soon with the University of Bath and our other partners universities."

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by four Clinical Commissioning Groups: Bath & North East Somerset CCG, Wiltshire CCG, Somerset CCG and South Gloucestershire CCG.
• The Trust has 759 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services.
• In 2015 The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) NHS Foundation Trust. The RNHRD treats patients from across the country offering services in rheumatology, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, cancer related fatigue and fatigue linked to other long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
• The RUH is changing - we have an exciting programme of redevelopment underway transforming our site and further improving the services we provide. The Trust is building a purpose built RNHRD and Therapies Centre and is now working towards a new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future

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