C&C DHB is establishing a Health, Education and Research Collaborative (HERC) centre

Capital & Coast DHB is establishing a Health, Education and Research Collaborative (HERC) centre as a one-stop-shop for research and education in 2010. The 6000 square metre site, housed in the Clinical Services Block and Ward Services Block of Wellington Hospital, is a commitment to all C&C DHB staff to promote continuing education and foster it at both the under-graduate and post-graduate level.

“Modern medicine is based on education and research and New Zealand has a proud record in this area. To continue this tradition and to enhance our performance as a tertiary hospital, we need to have a strong teaching and research base for our staff,” said HERC advisor Professor Richard Beasley.

The HERC Centre will provide major opportunities for the teaching of nurses, doctors and allied health professionals, to be undertaken alongside cutting edge research, from basic biomedical science through to clinical trial activity.

C&C DHB Research Office has been created within HERC to assist all researchers to apply for funding and gain ethical approval. It will also offer statistical advice and financial management. “We want to foster a culture of enquiry and learning at Capital & Coast. We want to say it’s okay to be curious,” said Director of Research Colin Feek.

Stage One parties who will be coming into the HERC this year include:

Victoria University of Wellington
University of Otago School of Medicine & Health Services
Whitireia Community Polytechnic College Faculty of Health Education and Social Sciences
Massey University School of Health Sciences
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
Wellington Free Ambulance

In addition there are five private organisations which will also be joining as commercial partners.

Innovations the HERC will have include:

A Clinical Trials unit, a 10-bed facility that all partners in HERC will have access to.
The National Patient Simulation Centre.

“This kind of dedicated research facility will help us attract and retain the right mix of staff and will become an important component to support staff in the future,” said C&C DHB Chief Operating Officer Shaun Drummond.

By fostering the sharing of knowledge, skills and expertise across the scientific, academic and health services, we can improve health outcomes in New Zealand.