3rd August 2018

Velindre Trust awarded University Status

Velindre NHS Trust, the organisation responsible for the Welsh Blood Service and cancer services in south east Wales has been awarded University status.

It reflects the growing reputation of the Trust and its frontline service providers – Velindre Cancer Centre and the Welsh Blood Service – as centres of academic excellence in research and development and innovation.

At a short ceremony at the headquarters of the Welsh Blood Service on Thursday (2 August), the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething signed an Establishment Order marking an exciting new chapter in the Trust’s history.

Commenting Vaughan Gething said: “I’m delighted to sign this Establishment Order today, granting University status to the Trust. This is more than just symbolic. It recognises the excellent achievements of the Welsh Blood Service and Velindre Cancer Centre in innovation and research and development and the role of the Trust in taking that work forward.   It also reflects a commitment by the Welsh Government to back health innovation in Wales and to create the conditions that allows that work to flourish.”

He added: “Wales is at the forefront of some pioneering research in the Life Sciences sector such as cell and gene therapies. The implications of this work has the potential to deliver significant improvements in our ability to treat certain diseases such as cancer. We have the potential here in Wales, with some highly-skilled people, to make advances in health and medicine that could benefit people the world over. This would undoubtedly bring significant health and economic benefits to Wales and cement our reputation as a leader in these fields. Velindre University NHS Trust has a big part to play in our ambition to realise this and I wish them every success for the future.”

Steve Ham, Chief Executive of Velindre University NHS Trust said: “Today marks an important milestone for Velindre NHS Trust. University status represents much more than just a name change. It gives us the platform and credentials to further advance our work which is already attracting the attention of a number of partners who are keen to work with us.”

He added: “We’ve got some incredible staff at Velindre Cancer Centre and the Welsh Blood Service who are passionate about their work in advancing new technologies and treatments to improve patient and donor care. I’m particularly pleased for them today.

“I’m grateful to the Welsh Government for their support and the faith that they’ve placed in us by awarding us University status.  Velindre University NHS Trust is now well positioned to attract and develop new and existing talent to the organisation and drive innovation across the whole Velindre Trust for the benefit of the wider NHS.”

View Velindre’s profile here.