The Martin House Research Centre- led by York’s Department of Health Sciences in an innovative joint venture with the hospice- will conduct work focusing on the priorities of families and the professionals who care and work for them.
The Centre brings together experts including academics from the Universities of York and Leeds, who will work with staff from Martin House Children’s Hospice, health and care professionals and researchers from the UK and beyond. The centre will deliver evidence and expertise relevant to policy makers, health and care professionals and families.
Public launch
Representatives from national charities, researchers, parents and young people gathered at the University of York’s King’s Manor for the public launch where they learned about the centre and heard from national figures working within children’s palliative care. Parents and young people with life-limiting conditions led a session sharing their experiences and opinions.
Dr Lorna Fraser, Senior Lecturer in York’s Department of Health Sciences and Director of the Martin House Research Centre, said:
“This is a very exciting, much-needed initiative which will allow us to undertake high quality research on areas that are important to children and young people with life-limiting conditions, their families and the clinicians caring for them.
“The outputs of the Centre’s research should be the evidence which will help to ensure that all children and families receive equitable, high quality care.”
Angela Monaghan, Chief Executive of Martin House Children’s Hospice, added:
“As a hospice with a long-standing commitment to research, we are immensely excited about the launch of the Martin House Research Centre. We are delighted that this exceptional new initiative will enable us to build a stronger evidence base by developing research in this challenging area, enabling us to make a real difference to children, young people and their families who need palliative care services and to the staff who care for them.”
The Martin House Research Centre will be led by Dr Lorna Fraser. Other senior researchers include Professor Bryony Beresford (Social Policy Research Unit, University of York), Dr Roger Parslow (University of Leeds) and Martin House Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Jan Aldridge.
Commenting on the new research centre Dr Sarah Russell, Head of Research at Hospice UK, said:
“The Martin House Children’s Research Centre is an excellent example of how collaborations between hospices and universities can generate and lead the development of knowledge and evidence.
“The University of York and Martin House Children’s Hospice are to be congratulated for their vision and commitment to make a difference to care.”
The hospice, based in Boston Spa, has nine bedrooms in Martin House, and six in Whitby Lodge, which cares for teenagers and young adults up to the age of 30 and sometimes beyond this age. Its services include respite stays, symptom control, emergency care, community care and end of life care.
More information about the new research centre can be found on the Martin House Children’s Hospice website.
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