New medical research hub opens at Limerick hospital

THE HSE have launched a new medical research hub to serve the Mid-West in one Limerick hospital.

HSE CEO Bernard Gloster opened the first of the HSE’s new regional Research Directorates at St Camillus’ Hospital and hailed the initiative as a “key commitment to advancing the delivery of modern healthcare”.

“The best medical care in the world is built upon the latest New medical research hub opens at Limerick hospitalscientific knowledge, and this knowledge is constantly being added to through research,” said Mr Gloster.

“Healthcare research makes new discoveries, it drives improvement, it makes treatments more effective and processes more efficient. 

“Whether its focus is on technology, surgery, medicine or the patient experience, research helps improve health and social care for our patients and clients, and the HSE, through its Regional Directorates, is committed to supporting research and embedding it across our services.”  

READ ALSO: Tánaiste Simon Harris 'chuffed' to get thank you card from 'inspirational' Limerick girl

The research hub, led by Professor Declan Lyons, will oversee all aspects of clinical research within the HSE locally, to promote the advancement of scientific knowledge and medical treatments.

As a single point of entry for healthcare researchers in the region, the directorate will streamline researchers’ access to professional advice and expert regulatory support.

As well as this, it will provide researchers with the infrastructure needed to conduct effective studies.

At the official opening on Friday, March 21, Prof Lyons said it was “an important step for the HSE in driving the research agenda forward. In collaboration with our academic partners, our mission in the Mid-West is to facilitate reliable, high-quality, and innovative research across a range of fields relevant to the people of the locality.”

He cited as an exemplar of such research the recent trial of a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment of older patients living with frailty who present to the Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick. 

Led by consultant geriatrician Dr Aoife Leahy, the research identified key benefits for patients, including reduced wait times in ED, fewer hospital admissions, lower rates of ED re-attendance and fewer nursing home admissions. 

Patients also reported better quality of life and function at 180 days.

Prof Lyons said such studies continue to drive improvement in healthcare, and his vision for the Research Directorate Mid-West is to help foster a thriving research culture that enables innovative studies that will impact patient lives locally, nationally and internationally.