Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) and the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) have successfully hosted their first joint partnership event, bringing together leaders, clinicians, researchers and programme teams from across both organisations to strengthen collaboration and accelerate evidence‑based improvements in health and care across the North of England.
Top right: Helen Cole, NHSA
Bottom left: Maddy Lowry
Associate Director, CWP
Bottom Right: Prof Sujeet Jaydeokar, CWP
The event marked an important milestone following CWP’s recent membership of the NHSA. Attendees took part in a full afternoon of presentations, discussion and networking focused on shared priorities including research, innovation, neurodiversity‑informed practice and co‑production.
The session opened with introductions from Prof Sujeet Jaydeokar, Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of Research at CWP, and Hannah Davies, Chief Executive of the NHSA. Prof Jaydeokar highlighted CWP’s established NHS‑based academic platforms for clinically led and co‑produced research, including the Centre for Autism, Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Intellectual Disability (CANDDID), and outlined ambitions to build a collaborative academic platform capable of reducing health inequalities experienced by neurodivergent populations. He also emphasised the role of the Centre for Implementation Science Research (CISR) and CWP REAL in translating evidence into practice.
NHSA executive leads then provided an overview of key programmes spanning health equity, women’s health, policy and communications, mental health, child health, ageing, workforce challenges, knowledge exchange, investment, international partnerships and health technologies.
CWP colleagues showcased a range of programmes demonstrating the Trust’s growing research and innovation capability. Presentations covered CANDDID, the CWP Research, Education, Academia and Learning (REAL) programme, child mental health and neurodiversity, workforce development, the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool (GMHAT) and CISR.
The event concluded with a group discussion led by Prof Jaydeokar and Hannah Davies, exploring how CWP and NHSA can maximise the value of the partnership and shape a shared vision for a North of England Neurodiversity Programme. Attendees identified opportunities to strengthen co‑production, enhance implementation science and support inclusive, equitable approaches informed by lived experience.
Hannah Davies, Chief Executive Officer of the NHSA said: “We are delighted to welcome CWP to the NHSA and to build on the strong foundations established through this partnership. By bringing together CWP’s expertise in neurodiversity, co-production and implementation science with the collective strengths of our members across the North, we have a real opportunity to accelerate research, translate evidence into practice and improve outcomes for neurodivergent people. This event was an important first step in shaping a shared ambition for a more inclusive and equitable approach to health and care across the region.”
Prof Sujeet Jaydeokar said: “We have established NHS‑based academic platforms for clinically led and co‑produced research, such as CANDDID, and we are keen to take the next step in developing a collaborative academic platform across the North that helps reduce the health inequalities experienced by neurodivergent populations.
“We believe the CWP and NHSA partnership will allow us to bring member organisations together under a shared CANDDID/NHSA umbrella. Alongside CISR and CWP REAL, we have strong translational research capability, enabling us to create and apply evidence in practice. With these strengths, we can contribute to NHSA’s existing programmes and help shape the development of a dedicated Neurodiversity Programme.”
Tim Welch, Chief Executive, CWP said: “The event highlighted the shared commitment to advancing high‑quality research, embedding co‑produced solutions and ensuring services are inclusive and equitable.
“We look forward to building on this momentum with the NHSA, translating evidence into meaningful, real‑world impact for the communities we serve.”
