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University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

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

The Bournemouth University (BU) and University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) Partnership Programme is a strategic collaboration designed to improve patient care, develop the workforce, and strengthen research and innovation across both organisations.

Purpose of the Partnership

The partnership brings together healthcare and academic expertise to:

  • Improve the quality of patient care
  • Train and support the current and future workforce
  • Advance research and service innovation
  • Deliver benefits for patients, staff, students, and the wider community.

How the Partnership Works

Guided by a joint BU–UHD Strategy (May 2021) focused on six key themes for collaboration.

bu uhd joint strategy v2

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

  • Senior leaders from both organisations agree an annual programme plan, progress overseen by partnership steering committee
  • Two dedicated steering committees (Research, and People & Workforce) focus on the two key workstreams.
  • Strong links exist across all four BU faculties, making it easier for staff and students to collaborate on ideas, education, and research

Developing the Workforce

  • UHD hosts over 1,000 BU student placements each year, with hospital staff also contributing to teaching at the university
  • Standardised pathways support placements, secondments, and joint posts
  • Bespoke training programmes are co-developed, including accredited courses and leadership apprenticeships
  • New training offers continue to evolve and support for existing courses continues.

Research and Quality Improvement

  • The partnership provides clear pathways and support for staff to engage in research alongside their clinical roles
  • Part-time opportunities enable UHD staff to develop research careers
  • BU–UHD /BU-NHS research events promote networking, learning, and sharing best practice across disciplines.

2026 BU-NHS Research / QI/ Clinical Audit Conference "Moving Forwards Together" was held on 16th April 2026 in the Fusion Building Talbot Campus.

Overall Impact

Working together with BU helps UHD:

  • Deliver better patient care
  • Attract, develop and retain talented staff
  • Make roles more rewarding and attractive
  • Strengthen innovation and evidence-based practice for the benefit of the local community

For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Terms of reference

Our policies and procedures

You can find our policy and procedures below:

Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Statement

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is committed to eliminating fraud, bribery and corruption within the NHS, protecting public resources for health and care. Fraud is an act of deception that is intended to make a financial gain or to cause a loss to another party. Bribery is generally defined as the giving or receiving of a financial or other advantage in exchange for improperly performing a relevant function or activity.

The Trust employs a specialist counter-fraud service to provide a comprehensive programme against fraud, bribery and corruption which is overseen by the Trust’s Chief Finance Officer and the Audit Committee.

The Trust has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud, bribery and corruption and is committed to applying the highest standards of ethical conduct and behaviour, as well as having robust controls in place to prevent fraud and corruption. As well as staff, the Trust also expects its suppliers to adhere to the same high standards.

Our dedicated policies and procedures set out our expectations and guidance for staff, contractors and anyone else working with or for the Trust with regards to preventing fraud, bribery and corruption, and raising concerns.

We ask all who have dealings with the Trust, as employees, agency staff, trading partners (contractors/suppliers), stakeholders and patients, to help us in our fight against fraud and corruption and to contact us immediately if any concerns arise. No individual will suffer any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting reasonably held suspicions. The success of the Trust’s anti-fraud and corruption measures depends on everyone playing their part.

The Trust’s Counter Fraud Specialist can be contacted in confidence:

Kim Hampson
Counter Fraud Specialist

  • by phone on 07881 840869
  • or by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All genuine suspicions of fraud and corruption can also be reported in confidence to the NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on free phone 0800 028 40 60 or at:

https://cfa.nhs.uk/reportfraud.

Pete Papworth
Chief Finance Officer

Why do we have FTSU?

In 2015, Sir Robert Francis QC set out a vision for creating an open and honest reporting culture in the NHS following his independent review into the failings at Mid Staffordshire.

Since then the board of directors at RBCH have continuously reiterated their support for the key principles of a speaking up culture and are committed to leading the actions required to implement them and the behaviours needed to do this.

The full statement of commitment and the annual declaration can be found here.

If you as an employee speak up about a concern, the FTSU team will ensure you are protected from suffering detriment, bullying or harassment from another employee.

Our joint FTSU aim:

To develop a culture of safety within PHT and RBCH so that we become a more open and transparent place to work, where all staff are actively encouraged and enabled to speak up safely.

  1. Giving our staff Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU)
  2. Volunteering
  3. Our charity
  4. Sustainability

Subcategories

Education and training

Transforming Care Together

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