02.05.05
Speakers announced for Cornwall's first health and business conference

An exciting range of speakers has been confirmed for Cornwall's first health and business conference. These include Doctor Peter Greenaway, former Chief Scientific Officer of the Department of Health and Co-Chair of the Research and Development and Industry Working Group, a key part of the Government's Health Industries Task Force (HITF). The HITF's 2004 report led to a programme of action to improve collaboration and partnerships between health services and businesses. He will deliver a speech about the Task Force and the ongoing programme of actions.

The conference, Building Bridges, is to be held on May 11th at the Knowledge Spa, the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, and is intended to be one of a series. It will be hosted by Cornwall Medi-Park Ltd and is intended to showcase facilities for businesses at the Knowledge Spa as well as demonstrate the opportunities available for the private sector to work with health services, via both the Spa and the forthcoming Medi Park.

Other speakers from across the country will include Tony Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Medilink WM and head of the new National Medilink. Tony will speak about medical and healthcare business networks. Medilink works for its business members to promote research, training, business development and partnerships between businesses and the NHS.

David Revitt, from Medilink East will also speak, partly about his close involvement with the Faraday Medical Devices organisation. The conference will be chaired by Professor Colin Roberts, chairman of Cornwall Medi-Park Ltd and is open to interested businesses in the region. He said: "This conference marks a very exciting development for Cornwall and its economy. Health is one of the few business areas which impact on everyone's lives. This conference will help us not only to develop health-related business locally, but also put Cornwall on the international stage."

Other speakers will include Brian Milstead, chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust; Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership and Stephen Bohane, of the South West Regional Development Agency. Following a coffee break the conference will continue with more speakers, including locally-based businesses, talking about what can be offered in Cornwall. These speakers include Professor Anthony Pinching, of the Peninsula Medical School; Professor Alan Miles; of the Faculty of Health and Social Work of the University of Plymouth; Dr Colin Pritchard of the NHS Research and Development support unit; West Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Brian Hobbs of MJ Medical and Peter Howarth-Jarrett of Full Motion.

West Pharmaceuticals is based in St Austell and now employs more than 400 people. MJ Medical specialises in hospital design and recently expanded to a business incubation unit at the Knowledge Spa. Full Motion has developed specialised IT modules for schools based on healthcare career opportunities and is now working on a project with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.

There will also be all important networking opportunities and a full network of support agencies will be available with stands and information. These include SWIG (South West Investment Group), Cornwall Business School, Unlocking Cornish Potential, Cornwall Pure Business, Business Link and South West Bio Approaches.

Any businesses wanting information or to book a place at the conference should contact Ros Stollard on 01872 25133, or by email: ros.stollard@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk.

For further information contact Sue Wolstenholme at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust on 01872 252934.

The Objective One programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in The Knowledge Spa through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Editor's notes:

Cornwall Medi-Park Ltd has been established jointly by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and the University of Plymouth to maximise the economic benefits to Cornwall from a close collaboration between health and business experts. The company will manage its business incubation units in the Knowledge Spa and lead the development of the new Medi-Park to be built adjacent to the existing site.

The Knowledge Spa offers modern, innovative and high quality facilities. It houses the Cornish component of the Peninsula Medical School, the faculty of Health and Social Work of the University of Plymouth and research activities of the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

The Knowledge Spa building and the conference have been supported by many agencies including Cornwall Enterprise, the Duchy Health Charity, Objective One and the South West Regional Development Agency.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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