Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) has joined the NHSA as a member organisation, reinforcing the North of England’s collective commitment to improving health outcomes through research, innovation and collaboration.

CWP provides health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all‑age disability care. The Trust employs 5,000 people across 70 sites in the Cheshire and Merseyside region and provides specialist services across the North West and North Wales. The Trust serves a population of over one million people, with specialist services reaching a further three million people.

They join the 23 existing members of the NHSA, which include research intensive universities, NHS Trusts and health innovation networks. Membership of the NHSA will enhance CWP’s research and innovation capability, supporting evidence‑based improvements across all the populations and services the Trust provides.

The partnership also marks an important step forward for CWP’s Centre for Autism, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Intellectual Disability (CANDDID) programme, creating new opportunities to work alongside leading universities, NHS organisations and health innovation partners across the North to address some of the most complex challenges facing health and care. As a member of the NHSA, CWP will contribute to pan-northern collaboration aimed at supporting innovation, sharing expertise and amplifying the North’s voice in national health and research agendas.

A key focus of the collaboration will be advancing neurodiversity-informed approaches, ensuring services are inclusive, equitable and shaped by lived experience. Through a strong emphasis on co-production and implementation science, CWP and NHSA partners will work together to translate research into meaningful, real-world improvements for patients, families and communities.

Hannah Davies, Chief Executive of the Northern Health Science Alliance said: “We are delighted to welcome Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to the NHSA membership. CWP brings valuable expertise in mental health, community services and neurodiversity-informed care, alongside a strong commitment to co-production and implementation science.

“Working together across the North gives us the opportunity to better connect research, innovation and frontline delivery, ensuring evidence-based approaches are adopted to meet the complex and unique needs of our northern population.

“The announcement further strengthens the NHSA’s growing network of NHS organisations, universities and innovation partners working together to tackle health inequalities, improve patient outcomes and support sustainable economic growth across the North of England.” 

Tim Welch, Chief Executive of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re thrilled to be joining the Northern Health Science Alliance. This partnership strengthens our ability to drive high‑quality research and innovation across all the populations we support, from mental health and learning disability services to community care and specialist provision.

“It also creates exciting opportunities to work with NHSA members and regional colleagues to advance neurodiversity‑informed approaches, ensure services are inclusive and equitable, and place lived experience at the heart of service design.

“Through co‑production and implementation science, we are committed to turning research into meaningful, real‑world impact. Together, we can accelerate the translation of evidence into practice, embed co‑produced solutions across systems and improve outcomes for the communities we serve.”