BACKGROUND

Research and innovation is now a key part of NHS core business and 955 of NHS Trusts are research active.  The NHS Operating  Framework (2008) sets out clear instructions that NHS organisations must play their full part in NHS research and double the number of patients recruited in to clinical trials and other well designed studies.

To achieve this, the NHS must play its full part in supporting health research.  NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts have a statutory duty to support education and training.  All providers of NHS care will need to increase their participation in research.

NHS Constitution 2009

“All NHS bodies and private and third sector providers supplying NHS services are required to take account of the Constitution in their decisions and actions.”

“The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism –through its commitment to INNOVATION and to the provision and conduct of RESEARCH to improve the current and future health and care of the population”

Gloucestershire R&D Consortium

The Gloucestershire R&D Consortium is a county-wide working group that was formed at the time of the bidding process for R&D Support funding in 1996 and it originated from the R&D Group that was set up to steer the work of the Gloucestershire Research & Development Support Unit (prior to the Gloucestershire Research Support Service - GRSS) in the early years. The Consortium has representation from primary and secondary care, and includes the acute, community mental health sectors, learning disabilities and crosses all relevant professional groups namely, medicine, nursing and professions allied to medicine.  The Consortium also has representation from the Research Support Service, namely the director and the R&D Coordinator.  

The Consortium provides strategic oversight of the management arrangements of the Gloucestershire Research Support Service and all research related action across the health community.

Gloucestershire Research Support Service

The office hosts a number of different functions including:

-    The Gloucester Office of the South West Research Design Service (SWRDS)

-    The Research Governance Team

-    The Clinical Trials Staff linked to the Research Networks

(these include the : Western Comprehensive Research Local Network / Non Cancer-Gastroenterology (WCRLN), Mental Health Research Network (MHRN), Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN), Stroke Research Network (SRN), Diabetes Research Network (DRN), Medicines for Children Local Research Network (SWMCRN).

-    The Barrett’s Oesophagus Surveillance Study (BOSS) Team