Our Chancellor, foreign affairs expert Dr Fiona Hill, recently visited Bishop Auckland Hospital to learn more about their work and the partnership between Durham University and the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).
The visit was a homecoming for Dr Hill, who grew up in and attended school in Bishop Auckland.
She, her father and her mother worked at the hospital as a cleaner, porter and senior nurse respectively.
Dr Hill and her sister were also born at Bishop Auckland Hospital.
In her acclaimed book, There is Nothing for You Here, Dr Hill writes about her parents’ roles at the hospital and describes how she worked as a cleaner there during her university summer holidays.
The hospital visit was hosted by CDDFT Chairman Professor Richard Scothon – who is a Professor in Practice (Health) in our Department of Sociology - and CDDFT Chief Executive Sue Jacques.
Dr Hill was accompanied by our Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health), Professor Charlotte Clarke, who works across the University and with external partners to support our world-leading health research and education.
They were shown the Frailty Ward where senior staff explained the vital services they deliver, and the adaptations made to the unit to help vulnerable patients.
This was followed by a tour of the Simulation Centre during which Dr Hill donned a virtual reality headset used to help train clinicians.
Health is a significant priority at Durham. We’re committed to enabling research that transforms lives globally, nationally and regionally.
Our departments are leading on everything from human-integrated medical devices and understanding neurodiversity, through to providing specialised advice on the design of clinical studies.
Through our Memorandum of Understanding with CDDFT, we're building stronger working relationships to support greater collaboration on health research and innovation.
In early June, we welcomed leaders from CDDFT onto our campus to discover more about our health research, teaching, and facilities.
We’re also part of the County Durham Care Partnership, together with CDDFT and Durham County Council, and took place in a research marketplace event for the partnership earlier this year.
Dr Hill said there were parallels between the CDDFT and the University, with both being anchor institutions in North East England striving to improve outcomes.
She added: “It’s been a fantastic visit and there are so many unexpected things I’ve learned – particularly the way technology such as VR (virtual reality) is being used to train emergency clinicians.
“The hospital is a real asset for Bishop Auckland and I’m excited about how we can further work together to build on and create new collaborations and networks between the University and the hospital.”
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset used for training medics in the Simulation Unit
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill holding a life-like model of baby patient used to help train medics in the Simulation Unit
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill with CDDFT officials at Bishop Auckland Hospital
Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Health) Professor Charlotte Clarke speaking to Frailty Ward staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill speaking to Frailty Ward staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital
CDDFT Chairman Professor Richard Scothon with Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill
Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Derek Randles discusses simulation training with Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill with a life-like model of a patient used for training medics in the Simulation Unit
Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health), Professor Charlotte Clarke with Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill at Bishop Auckland Hospital
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill with senior staff of the Frailty Ward at Bishop Auckland Hospital
Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health), Professor Charlotte Clarke, CDDFT Chairman Professor Richard Scothon, Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill, CDDFT Chief Executive Sue Jacques
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