Divvying up the costs of conducting research in the NHS funded by medical research charities is an intricate business. Who pays for that research nurse, their time in administering the extra treatment required in a clinical trial, the procedures and equipment needed as part of its conduct, the oversight and governance needed to ensure that things are done … Continue reading DH and charities reach acoRD over medical research costs
NHS
Patient involvement in the Health and Social Care Act: National Voices Briefing
National Voices have published an excellent briefing on what the Health and Social Care Act (which received Royal Assent today) means for public involvement in care.' And how we need to actively follow-up with the new NHS structures and bodies established by the legislation to ensure they keep to the letter of the law. Read … Continue reading Patient involvement in the Health and Social Care Act: National Voices Briefing
The duty falls on all of us to issue that wake-up call to the NHS about its research mission
Last week, medical research charities among others hailed a series of Government amendments made to the Health and Social Care Bill. These place 'a strong duty across the Secretary of State, the NHS Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups to promote research and the use of research evidence.' The amendments are in response to persistent lobbying; their … Continue reading The duty falls on all of us to issue that wake-up call to the NHS about its research mission
That article about patient questionnaires: the NHS ain’t no Argos
This article in The Guardian about how the NHS has much to learn from the retail sector in the way it designs and uses patient questionnaires has prompted a lot of angry comment. To be fair, it makes one or two good points. These include the fact that we are too slow in incorporating patient … Continue reading That article about patient questionnaires: the NHS ain’t no Argos
I’ve got a pile of irony to do tonight – from Scottish independence to NHS reform
On my train journey from Edinburgh this morning, I listened to a BBC Radio Scotland phone-in about the implications of Scottish independence. The intricacies of a possible de-coupling from the UK are fascinating - from the economy to people's pensions, to the NHS. I've yet to read an article written specifically about the pros and cons … Continue reading I’ve got a pile of irony to do tonight – from Scottish independence to NHS reform
Share your experience of public involvement in research: INVOLVE 2012 Conference call for presentations
Doing this remotely so apologies if this doesn't work/come out very well: INVOLVE 2012: Putting people first in research Conference call for presentations is now open Our eighth biennial INVOLVE conference will take place on 13th and 14th November 2012 at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham. The conference will bring together members of the public, service users, researchers, research … Continue reading Share your experience of public involvement in research: INVOLVE 2012 Conference call for presentations
Entitled to a title? Should we better recognise members of the public and patients involved in research?
Various reports today about the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley MP's, statement in response to a question today in the Commons that he is working to introduce an 'effective compliance regime' to ensure local NHS organisations implement NICE recommendations. Those with children will no doubt empathise. I'm not sure that as a statement … Continue reading Entitled to a title? Should we better recognise members of the public and patients involved in research?
Manning and crowd weigh in on NHS reforms at the eleventh hour
Goodness me the nation's health must be in peril if the Royal Colleges have kicked off their slippers and downed their pipes to emerge like Dad's Army into the affray about the NHS reforms. All seems to rest now on those of their number who reside in the Upper House. How peculiarly English but ultimately unsatisfactory … Continue reading Manning and crowd weigh in on NHS reforms at the eleventh hour
NHS reforms to face a tough round of Peer review this autumn
We are a nation that no longer knows when to put its rubbish bins out. So I reflected, as I dragged our two overflowing wheelie bins back to their usual place. To be fair to Bromley Council, it's not that they fail to pick-up our rubbish; just that no one can quite predict what sort … Continue reading NHS reforms to face a tough round of Peer review this autumn
What do patients want from health research regulation?
In a blog 'exclusive' - albeit more by technical chance than design - I am today sharing with you the independent report of the AMRC/INVOLVE patient workshop on health research regulation that took part in early November. We were invited to undertake this important piece of work by the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) as … Continue reading What do patients want from health research regulation?
The Public health white paper – a new school of thought
'Healthy Lives, Healthy People,' the White Paper on public health has been published and is available on the Department of Health website. The news release sets out the Secretary of State's 'ladder of intervention' - from the rather refreshingly titled 'do nothing' up to 'eliminate choice altogether' - which sound like the different states of readiness one … Continue reading The Public health white paper – a new school of thought
Good news on medical research regulation
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, paid a visit to the Wellcome Trust this morning and announced a clutch of initiatives including: £250 million investment in 2010/11 for the new world-class medical research centre at St Pancras in London which will bring together research teams to tackle major medical challenges. The … Continue reading Good news on medical research regulation
'….and charities'
A huge tome literally fell into my lap this morning. So heavy was the 151 page brochure from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) that it broke through the botton of the envelope in which it was sent. Coincidentally as I began to flick through its glossy pages this morning, the Office for … Continue reading '….and charities'