Sheffield will be given £10 million by the government to develop a centre of excellence for sporting medicine, it was announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
The funding for Sheffield is intended for the development of one of three hubs around the country, which together
will form the country’s first ever National Sports and Exercise Medicine Centre
of Excellence. The Health Secretary made the
announcement today while visiting one of the network partners, Loughborough
University.
The Centre will help more people to be more active, treat
injuries caused by exercise and conditions associated with lack of
exercise. This will mean people who are
injured return to physical health and work quickly. It will also help people use the benefits of
physical activity to cope with existing medical conditions, such as diabetes.
The establishment of the Centre will also fulfil one of the
Government’s key 2012 Games bid commitments and will be a lasting legacy of the
Games.
Sir Andrew Cash, Chief Executive, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:
"It
is fantastic news that Sheffield will be one
of three hubs forming the National Sports and Exercise Medicine Centre of
Excellence. The
City is well placed to ensure this project is successful. Sheffield
has world class sport and medical facilities complemented by world class
research and educational programmes in the Cities two Universities. In addition
Sheffield has award winning public health and
voluntary sector programmes aimed at engaging "at risk" groups and
communities and reducing health in-equalities."