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Bournemouth University (BU) – University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) Partnership Programme

Our partnership with Bournemouth University (BU) is something of which we are very proud.

Working together enables us to better train our people and improve the quality of services we each provide.  This benefits our patients, students, staff, organisations, partners and the wider community which we serve. 

Watch this video to see how the BU-UHD partnership continues to benefit our local community

Our joint BU-UHD Strategy (May 2021) focuses on six key themes for joint work, highlighted in the diagram below.

bu uhd joint strategy v2

strategic alignment stimulus for research education and training recruit and retain meeting future challenges wider partnerships

Working Together

We are keen that the benefits of our partnership with BU are felt throughout the hospital and across the university.

With strong links with all four faculties at Bournemouth University (BU Business School, Faculty of Media and Communications, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science and Technology), linking with academics and students to develop ideas and undertake research has never been easier.Each year our senior leaders from hospital and university develop an annual programme plan setting out clearly key areas for joint work for the coming year.

Progress in delivering our plan is reviewed monthly at the BU-UHD partnership steering committee which also gives our leaders a chance to identify how working together can help overcome specific challenges as they occur.Two joint steering committees – one for research and one for people and workforce, are led by BU faculty Executive Deans.These steering committees enable key staff from across the two organisations to work together to deliver their area of the programme plan.Joint posts, such as our new associate professor in nursing, help teams work ever closer – a standardised pathway of how to develop and agree such posts is due shortly.

Training our future workforce

We host long and short placements for over 1000 students from BU each year and many of our hospital staff also lecture at the University.We’re proud to be playing our role in developing the whole range people we need in the future and helping our talented staff share their learning with others.

Standardised pathways provide a road map for teams interested in developing long term placements/ secondments suitable for BU students.

Training our own staff is also a key part of what the partnership supports.Working together we can develop bespoke training for our staff that allows us to develop and adopt new practices and offer the very best in terms of care for our patients.

We work closely with the university team to gain accreditation for training programmes such as in biomedical sciences and identify potential areas for new programmes in a range of disciplines.

Training is not only for our clinical staff – a new senior leader level 7 apprenticeship supports our managers to develop.New programmes are always under development making it an exciting space in which to work and study.A new digital and data leadership module is due for piloting next year, supporting key staff as we adopt technology into the workplace that not only automates some clerical aspects of the role, but supports improved patient and staff experience.

With such expertise, new buildings and fabulous facilities at their disposal, it is no wonder that more teams are now utilising BU to help develop, deliver and host team away days.

Research to improve quality

Working with the university gives us a great platform in order to undertake research.By streamlining our processes, publishing pathways and “how to” guides as well as holding research themed events, we have enabled more staff than ever to consider research alongside their normal role.

New part-time PhD pathways enable staff to develop novel research ideas with the best being granted sponsorship each year.Linking across the different faculties can really enhance the development of these proposals with staff actively supported to make these connections.

Biannual BU-UHD research events enable us to network, share our research, reflect on our experience and learn from each other. With presentations, workshops and posters from across the hospitals there is something for everyone at these events which are also a great chance for those interested in research to develop their skills.

Summary

Working in partnership with BU helps us to provide the best care, develop our people and develop our services ultimately to the benefit of our patients and wider community.

It's unsurprising that #BUUHDtogether is helping us attract new talent to our organisations and make the roles we have more interesting and rewarding.

  • For more information on the BU-UHD Partnership or standardised pathways contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • For information on current vacancies at UHD click here www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers 

  • To review a copy of the posters from our most recent research event click here

Case studies...

The BU-UHD working in partnership is attracting and helping to retain staff which benefitspatients and staff.

Leila Kattach who was working as an advanced nurse practitioner in dermatology at Guy’s Hospital London and looking to develop her skills. Rather than take up an offered nurse consultant role she chose to make the move to Dorset for the opportunity to take up a four year PhD studentship based in our Dermatology team and linked to Bournemouth University’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. Read more here.

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