News

University of Durham hosts European Health Executives Forum

(3 February 2004)

Health executives from across Europe have visited the University of Durham to pool their know-how about issues and policies impacting on European health care.

The prestigious 5 day programme directed by Dr. Marie Johnson of the University's School for Health brought together senior health executives from across Europe to share their expertise and exchange information and ideas.

Contributors included Professor David Hunter, Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Durham, Professor Reinhard Busse of the Technical University of Berlin and Professor Mats Brommels of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.

Delegates also heard from keynote NHS speakers including Ken Jarrold CBE, Chief Executive of County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority. The 16-strong party visited pioneering healthcare projects within the region including West Central Hartlepool New Deal for Communities, Sure Start in Stanley, Sedgefield Primary Care Trust, the Trimdon 2000 initiative and West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust.

Whilst health systems in Europe continue to be exposed to radical policy changes and improvement programmes the isolated manner in which they function often dilutes the impact of the agencies engaged in health and care development.

Professor David Hunter said: "While they display significant diversity, European health systems are confronting similar challenges such as technological developments, affording a valuable opportunity for policy and management learning across the various systems. Our premise is that leaders must embrace a whole systems perspective on health and community regeneration, involving public and private sector contributions".

Delegates who have signed up to the innovative programme will attend a series of events delivered throughout the year at partner institutions in Sweden, Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands.

Website information with programme details.

3 February 2004

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Notes to Editors
There are five partners working on the European Health Executive Programme:

• School for Health, University of Durham, England
  The School for Health has developed rapidly during the past few years and brings together innovative academic research centres, undergraduate medical education and a number of health-orientated agencies such as the Public Health Observatory and Health Development Agency Regional Office. Within the field of Public Policy and Health there are centres for Clinical Management Development, Arts and Humanities in Health and Medicine, and Integrated Health Care Research.
  The work of the School has forged strong links with local communities and health care providers. However, the multinational and multi-disciplinary faculty bring a strongly comparative orientation to all aspects of the School's teaching and research.
  
  
• Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  The Karolinska Institute is one of Europe's largest medical universities. It accounts for one third of the medical training in Sweden, and offers, in addition, undergraduate programmes in sixteen allied health professions.
  The Institute's emphasis is on biomedical research, and it sets out to attract new generations of researchers by extensive research training programmes. The Institute produces 40% of all medical research at universities throughout Sweden.
  The Institute collaborates widely nationally and internationally both with universities and research institutes, healthcare organisations and industry. Aware of its responsibility to ensure that new scientific knowledge and technology is actively implemented in healthcare in order to improve services to the patient, the Institute leadership established a new programme in Medical Management in 2002.
  
  
• Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
  The Semmelweis University of Medicine is one of the oldest universities in Hungary and the Health Services Management Training Centre is its youngest and most dynamic department. The Centre was established in response to a need for a training and support for health service managers - recognised as a separate profession after the enormous social changes of the last 15 years. The Centre's programmes cover a wide professional spectrum including health policy, health economics, various fields of health services management - leadership, change management and management of quality. International cooperation played a crucial role in the creation of the Centre and continues to play a vital part in its current activities.
  
  
• Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
  In contrast to most technical universities in Germany, the TU Berlin not only offers courses in engineering and natural sciences, but also humanities, social sciences and economics.
  
  The Department of Health Care Management within the Faculty of Economics and Management combines these strands by focussing on health technology assessment, management of health care institutions and health systems research.
  
  The Technische Universität is highly international in its outlook, with links to some 200 universities worldwide. Some 5,700 of its students, or 20%, are from foreign countries, making it the most
  
  
• Julius Center, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  The Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care is part of the Utrecht University Medical Centre. It carries out scientific research, provides education and offers expertise and facilities in the area of health sciences.
  
  The Centre holds a leading position in the enlargement and dissemination of knowledge, especially in the field of biomedical sciences. The Centre has earned its reputation for groundbreaking research in the area of four disease-related themes and by the provision of courses for researchers, clinicians and health care executives.
  
  The Centre has undergone intense development and growth since its inception five years ago, and has acquired a central position in patient oriented research. This position is characterised by an extensive advisory function, especially in clinical epidemiology, public health and health care innovation