Leeds NHS and Johnson & Johnson MedTech develop new partnership

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Johnson & Johnson MedTech have revealed a new strategic collaboration to drive forward health innovation plans in West Yorkshire.

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J&J - Leeds NHS

CEO of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Professor Phil Wood, chair of The Trust, Dame Linda Pollard, MP for Leeds Central, Hilary Benn, and managing director of Johnson & Johnson MedTech UK, Hugo Breda.

The partnership brings together the Trust’s clinical and health innovation expertise with J&J’s innovation capabilities; aiming to drive lasting improvements to health outcomes in Leeds and across the region and prioritise a focus on addressing health inequalities.

During an event at the Palace of Westminster last week to update ministers and partners on progress to build a new hospital on the site of Leeds General Infirmary as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, the chair and chief executive of the Trust, Dame Linda Pollard, and Professor Phil Wood, alongside Johnson & Johnson MedTech managing director, UK, Hugo Breda; came together to formally announce the organisations had signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Bringing together NHS and industry expertise to support a thriving health innovation ecosystem in Leeds which will have a local and global impact, this significant agreement will see the organisations collaborate on:

• driving forward innovation, R&D and new medtech for the benefit of all patients, with a focus on improving health equality
• promoting skills, talent, and jobs in innovation.
• delivering increased efficiency within the healthcare supply chain, including climate benefits.

Professor Phil Wood, CEO of Leeds Teaching Hospitals said: “The Trust is delighted to have agreed a strategic partnership with Johnson and Johnson MedTech, bringing together our clinical expertise and Johnson & Johnson’s innovation capabilities to make a lasting difference to health outcomes, and address health inequalities – not just in Leeds, but potentially on a global scale.

“We’ll be collaborating on innovation and R&D, nurturing skills and talent for the future – all while delivering climate and sustainability benefits. It’s significant news that will enable us to embrace innovation and move forward with our ambitions to provide our patients with the very best in modern, efficient healthcare, which is tailored to their needs.”

Johnson & Johnson MedTech managing director, UK, Hugo Breda said: “This is a significant announcement for healthcare in Leeds. We believe that through this collaboration we can drive an increase in innovation for unmet healthcare needs, and equality in access to health services for the people of West Yorkshire.

“Our global R&D and manufacturing facility in Leeds has a significant history in healthcare, being the home of the origins of hip replacement surgery. Today, we have employees working across the spectrum of medical technology development, from 3D printing and robotic surgery to custom medical implant creation and innovative patient education systems. We are excited about utilising this expertise to drive our shared goals with the Leeds Trust.”

The announcement followed the news on Monday that West Yorkshire is to be home to the country’s third Investment Zone, boosting the city’s ambition to deliver innovation that creates a healthier, greener, and inclusive future for Leeds, the region and across the globe. The investment in digital and healthtech will accelerate plans for the Leeds Innovation Arc, kickstarting the development of the Innovation Village on the Leeds General Infirmary site with the refurbishment of the Old Medical School to create a healthtech innovation hub.

The Trust is already leading the way and putting a strategic focus on health innovation with the Innovation Pop-up which is at the heart of these plans to create an Innovation Village. Set up just over two years ago and to date working across 15 countries, the Innovation Pop Up has helped build and support a thriving community of health technology businesses and entrepreneurs, working with hospital clinicians to turn new ideas and emerging technologies into real world healthcare solutions for the benefit of Leeds and beyond.

The Trust has also had funding and plans approved this year to build a new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital, a new adults’ hospital and one of the largest single site maternity centres at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) before 2030.

The development of the Innovation Village on the site of Leeds General Infirmary and as part of the city’s Innovation Arc is expected to bring direct and wider economic benefits of up to £13 billion in net present value terms to the city, along with around 4,000 jobs and 520 new homes.