NHS cuts grant to research institute

One of the UK’s leading social care research
institutes faces an uncertain future following the NHS Executive’s
decision to stop funding its work.

From
July, the NHSE will terminate the Tizard Centre’s £700,000 a
year grant because of reorganisation within the NHS. The grant,
which used to be provided through the South East Thames Regional
Health Authority, accounts for around half the centre’s annual
budget.

The
centre, part of the University of Kent in Canterbury, may have to
reduce its research work and cut some of its 17 staff as a result
of losing the funding. Several posts have already not been
readvertised, planned posts discontinued and some contracts
threatened.

The
20-year-old centre researches learning difficulties, mental health
and older people, and offers professional development
courses.

Paul
Cambridge, senior lecturer in learning difficulties at the centre,
said attempts to find alternative long-term funding had so far
failed, but that the university had agreed to give short-term
support.

He
said: “The centre may have to look at developing its consultancy
work and doing more teaching to generate income, which will risk
our research activities. This could have long-term impacts on our
understanding of the field.”