A RENOWNED expert on Parkinson’s Disease has been appointed the North East and North Cumbria’s first Clinical Academic Professor in Nursing – one of the first key roles of its type in the UK

Dr Annette Hand will take up the flagship clinical chair post – a joint position between Newcastle Hospitals and Northumbria University – as part of a shared vision to deliver world-leading nursing through outstanding research, education and clinical practice.

As Professor in Nursing, Annette will develop and drive a collaborative nursing, midwifery and Allied Health Professional research and academic agenda that will, fundamentally, improve patient and carer outcomes.

She will also be an active member of Newcastle Health Innovation Partners which is working to build strong partnerships regionally, nationally and internationally to deliver a vision of improving health and growing the economy across the North East and Cumbria through research and innovation.

Annette, who takes up her new post this week, currently has a clinical academic position at the University and divides her busy working schedule between three roles. As well as being an Associate Professor at the University, she is also a Nurse Consultant for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the UK Clinical Lead for Nursing (Parkinson’s).

She has worked in the field of Parkinson’s for many years and, as a Nurse Consultant, has an active clinical, research and educational role within this area with a national and international reputation in her field.

As an Associate Professor, Annette has also lectured on the non-medical prescribing programme (V300) for a number of years

She is also leads a team of researchers in Northumbria and is Chief Investigator of a two-year nationwide research project – The USP project – which was launched last year and aims to getting a better understanding of the role of specialist nurses who support patients with Parkinson’s disease.

“I’ve been working towards this over the last 20 years of my clinical practice and, more recently, as a clinical academic – it’s definitely the pinnacle of my academic career and a fantastic opportunity,” said Annette, who will continue to work in clinical practice at least one day a week.

“It’s so exciting to be driving the nursing agenda further forward with two organisations that are absolutely committed to working together in research, education and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes and patient care.

“Our ambition is to make our profession more professional – not just at a local level but nationally and internationally.”

Newcastle Hospitals’ Executive Chief Nurse Maurya Cushlow said: “I am delighted Annette will be joining us in this exciting collaborative role. Her combined clinical and academic expertise is a great addition to both our organisations, where we believe there is a specialist role for a nursing educator and researcher to deliver quality care for patients and their families.

“Annette is a leading nursing academic in the UK with an outstanding track record of research, education, and leadership in the field and her appointment will leverage our joint strength to build our research, education and teaching offer, and remain at the forefront of clinical excellence, underpinned by innovation.”

Professor Debbie Porteous, Head of the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University, added “The appointment of Professor Annette Hand to this flagship clinical academic joint appointment between The Newcastle upon Tyne Foundation Trust and Northumbria University will drive the collaborative research agenda forward to fundamentally improve patient and carer outcomes.

“This is a unique role and one of the first in the country for nursing. Together working on the development and appointment of Annette to this unique role, will enhance and improve both the University and Trust’s national and international reputation for nursing education, research and practice. I am proud to be part of this development and look forward to further clinical academic joint appointments.”