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Medical, Health and Life Sciences
Plymouth has a rapidly developing medical base with a mix of activity from teaching to medical-engineering, medical informatics and bio-marine science. The city is developing a growing knowledge-based manufacturing and service industry by linking to the work of the university, hospital and the advanced engineering sector.
View the Medical sector factsheet
PlymouthPlymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is the largest hospitals Trust in the South West Peninsula, incorporating Derriford Hospital, the Royal Eye Infirmary, the Child Development Centre, several further hospitals and satellite units.
They provide comprehensive secondary and tertiary healthcare to a population of around half a million people across the region.
Derriford Hospital receives more than 48,000 people through its main entrance within a week, is one of Europe’s largest hospitals and the only trauma centre in Devon and Cornwall.
They host an Integrated Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit employing around 150 military medical personnel.
They are a teaching trust in partnership with the University of Plymouth, and a key partner along with the City Council, local universities and business community in the emerging Plymouth Health Innovation Alliance (PHIA).
They host clinician researchers across the range of specialities, with clinical trials and academic studies in Hepatology, Lymphoma, Neurology, Imaging, Clinical Education, Safety and Quality, Physiotherapy, Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine, Perioperative and Emergency Medicine and Oncology.
The Trust is at the centre of a united network providing social and primary care through to acute, secondary and complex care and back again. Hospitals NHS Trust is the largest hospitals Trust in the South West Peninsula, incorporating Derriford Hospital, the Royal Eye Infirmary, the Child Development Centre, several further hospitals and satellite units.
They provide comprehensive secondary and tertiary healthcare to a population of around half a million people across the region.
Derriford Hospital receives more than 48,000 people through its main entrance within a week, is one of Europe’s largest hospitals and the only trauma centre in Devon and Cornwall.
They host an Integrated Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit employing around 150 military medical personnel.
They are a teaching trust in partnership with the University of Plymouth, and a key partner along with the City Council, local universities and business community in the emerging Plymouth Health Innovation Alliance (PHIA).
They host clinician researchers across the range of specialities, with clinical trials and academic studies in Hepatology, Lymphoma, Neurology, Imaging, Clinical Education, Safety and Quality, Physiotherapy, Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine, Perioperative and Emergency Medicine and Oncology.
The Trust is at the centre of a united network providing social and primary care through to acute, secondary and complex care and back again.
University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Health
One of the UK’s largest providers of graduates for the medical, health and social care sector, which has over 350 different career paths to produce the next generation of doctors, nurses, dentists and health professionals. The Faculty consists of six schools:
- Peninsula Medical School
- Peninsula Dental School
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- School of Health Professions
- School of Psychology
- School of Biomedical Sciences
Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR)
From basic research discovering the causes of disease, through to evaluating novel ways of delivering care to the most vulnerable people in society, PIHR is a thriving community that conducts adventurous world-leading research with the explicit purpose of improving the health and care of the populations we serve.
The Institute’s research and innovation is delivered through three interconnected research clusters: PIHR Discovery, PIHR Translation, and PIHR Community, supported by crosscutting expertise in health technology, methodology including health measurement, and ‘blue health’, linking with the marine and maritime strengths of the University and the South West.
The Peninsula Radiology Academy
The Peninsula Radiology Academy in Plymouth is the only purpose-built facility of its type in the world. It has been designed from scratch, blending established traditional small group teaching methods with state-of-the-art electronic and simulator technology.
DDRC Healthcare (Diving Diseases Research Centre)
DDRC Healthcare is a registered charity based at Plymouth Science Park specialising in diving and hyperbaric medicine.
It operates four hyperbaric chambers employing around 70 highly skilled staff.
The centre undertakes Bio-medical research and Clinical trials in partnership with research organisations.
DDRC Professional Services Ltd provides medical training to the maritime and offshore industries, occupational medical examinations, consultancy and other services.
DDRC Wound Care Ltd offering private, specialist wound care.
Plymouth Health Innovation Alliance (PHIA)
PHIA is a business-led group that promotes collaboration opportunities in the city between NHS organisations, the university, businesses and the third sector. It seeks to address the challenges of the local population by driving innovative solutions for the future.
Nuffield Health - Plymouth Hospital
Nuffield Hospital is located adjacent to Derriford Hospital providing general medical, health screening and cosmetic services to private clients and also supporting NHS Trust activity. It has 37 private en-suite rooms, four bed recovery ward and two operating theatres. It also has a busy outpatient department which includes a minor operating room, physiotherapy and clinical imaging unit, with MRI and CT capabilities.
Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park
Located in close proximity to Plymouth Science Park and Derriford Hospital, the park offers business space for offices, technology, research and development, healthcare and medical related businesses. Residents include:
- The Peninsula Radiology Academy
- Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre a 44-bed unit operated by Care UK offering general surgery and diagnostics in addition to orthopaedic treatment and rehabilitation
- Biovault Technical, the UK’s leading and largest private tissue bank
- K2 Medical Systems, a technology company dedicated to improving maternity care at all stages.
The Plymouth Science Park (PSP) is a joint venture between the University of Plymouth and Plymouth City Council and is the largest Science and Technology centre in the South West. Generating a combined turnover of £100m, the Park is home to a community of more than100 businesses from start-ups to multi-national corporations. PSP businesses employ upwards of 1,000 people across innovative technology, digital, creative, marine and science-based businesses.
It is at the heart of the Plymouth Health Campus, uniquely co-located with two universities, University of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and the International Medical and Technology Park.
PSP offers cutting-edge facilities and access to academic expertise as well as a wide range of business and promotional support. PSP is a vibrant community of science- and technology-based enterprises with an ambition to make Plymouth the Number One location for high value business activity.
Key Life Science businesses include:
- UltraCardiac
- Re:Cognition
- Sentinel Healthcare
- Cardio Analytics
- DDRC
- Express Diagnostics
- Amprologix
- The Vaccine Group
South West Academic Health Science Network (SW AHSN)
The SW AHSN is the key NHS funded body that links and drives the Innovation, Intelligence and Information activity of the sector in Plymouth to the wider South West region and ultimately to the UK as a whole.
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