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UCL researchers meet Her Majesty The Queen at new UCLH hospital opening

20 February 2020

Her Majesty The Queen formally opened the Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals this week, with UCL staff in attendance to showcase their work in partnership with the hospital.

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The hospital, part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), is one of the biggest specialist centres in Europe for dental, ear, nose, throat, hearing and balance services. It has been treating patients since October 2019.

The new hospital brings together two existing hospitals (Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital and Eastman Dental Hospital), and carries forward both hospitals’ longstanding relationships with UCL.

Her Majesty saw first-hand the work being carried out across the facility’s specialties, visiting the adult dental treatment floor, the paediatric treatment floor and the auditory implant centre. The Queen met patients who have benefited from the hospitals’ care and staff, including dental and ENT clinicians, who showcased the units.

In attendance, Professor David Lomas, UCL Vice-Provost (Health) and UCLH non-executive director, said: “I was delighted to be present when Her Majesty the Queen opened the new Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospital today. Our close relationship with UCLH is central to delivering world leading research and education that are critical to improving patient care.”

Located in the heart of UCL, on Huntley Street, the new hospital will facilitate collaborative working across teaching, research and patient care.

The UCL Eastman Dental Institute is benefiting from the new facilities, as postgraduate students have access to state-of-the-art equipment, and are gaining clinical experience under specialist supervision in a modern and patient-friendly environment.

UCL Eastman Dental Institute Director, Professor Stephen Porter, said: “The new hospital will offer immense opportunities to continue the strong collaboration between UCL Eastman Dental Institute and UCLH Eastman Dental Hospital. It will ensure our clinical academic staff and postgraduates work in wonderful facilities and hence help enhance the lives of patients."

The UCL Ear Institute is continuing to seamlessly integrate research within patient care pathways, for diagnostic studies and trials of innovative hearing treatments through the NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre’s Deafness and Hearing Problems Theme. Professor Shakeel Saeed (UCL Ear Institute and Divisional Clinical Director of Ear, Nose and Throat services) was on hand to introduce Her Majesty to members of his division.

Commenting on the new facilities Professor Jonathan Gale (Director, UCL Ear Institute), also in attendance, said: “As well as providing excellent facilities for NHS services the new hospital also provides unique opportunities to expand our programme of research into the causes and treatments of hearing and balance disorders.”

Professor Marcel Levi, chief executive of UCLH, said: “It was a privilege to be able to show The Queen our new facility. I am immensely proud of our staff and the care we provide our patients. Our newest hospital has the very latest technology, new treatment rooms for complex ear, nose and throat procedures, dental chairs and imaging equipment. It can offer the world's most advanced treatment and represents the NHS at its very best.”

 

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  • Her Majesty The Queen meeting audiology staff and patients at the new hospital. Professor Shakeel Saeed is pictured (wearing waistcoat). Credit: UCLH

Media contact

Chris Lane

Tel: +44 (0)207 679 9222

Email: chris.lane [at] ucl.ac.uk