Saolta University Health Care Group to include University in Formal Name of Each of Group's Hospitals

The Saolta University Health Care Group has decided to include University in the formal name of each of the hospitals in the Saolta Group. This recognises the key role of the Group’s academic partner NUI Galway in education, research and training across each hospital in the Saolta Group and is a further step in the implementation of the Saolta identity across the Group’s constituent hospitals. 
 
Commenting Maurice Power, CEO Saolta University Health Care Group said, “Our close collaboration with NUI Galway is a critical part of our role as major teaching Hospital Group both from a training perspective for all our students but equally because of the many key research partnerships we undertake in collaboration with NUI Galway, including-for example- the recent opening of the Lambe Institute for Translational Research and the HRB Clinical Research facility on the UHG campus. 
 
“The Group structure allows our students and staff in training the opportunity to work across all hospitals in the Group and gain important clinical experience in the different types of service each of our hospitals provide. NUI Galway is currently developing medical academies on our hospital sites in Sligo, Mayo and Letterkenny. These developments mark a significant major investment by the University into clinical training on these sites. 
 
“The inclusion of University in our hospitals’ titles underpins the importance they each play in the provision of training to our future medical and nursing and other staff and the provision of first class health services to the people of the West and North West.
 
“As with all aspects of the implementation of this project, we will continue to use the most cost-effective ways of facilitating this inclusion in our hospitals' names.”
 
 Commenting Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway and non-executive member of the Saolta University Health Care Group said, “NUI Galway is very pleased to be the academic partner of the Saolta University Health Care Group.  This reflects a strong record of collaboration on education, research and training with the healthcare system in our region over many decades.   
 
The involvement of the University in the work of all seven hospitals in the Group - from Letterkenny to Roscommon - brings significant strength to our region’s healthcare system, helping to bring new therapies and enhancing the attractiveness of employment throughout the system. 
 
Healthcare provided in a research-intensive environment has been proven internationally to result in better patient outcomes.  I am confident that the health system across our region will be significantly strengthened by being part of the new integrated academic healthcare system, Saolta University Health Care Group.”
 
The Saolta University Health Care Group is comprised of:
·         Galway University Hospitals (University Hospital Galway & Merlin Park University Hospital Galway) 
·         Letterkenny University Hospital
·         Mayo University Hospital
·         Portiuncula University Hospital 
·         Roscommon University Hospital
·         Sligo University Hospital