Heartbeat: Understanding your role in research – best patient care

September 21, 2021

Research is important to improving patient care, but you may not know why and it’s not always obvious how you can contribute.

A research culture is important to the delivery of care to our patients. We know that patients who are treated in organisations who are research active have better outcomes and patients want to be included in research.

To embed a research culture, all colleagues patient facing or not, need to know about research. It doesn’t matter whether you are a receptionist, senior clinician, nurse or the chief executive. You matter in clinical research by being aware that it happens in your organisation, or by actively supporting it through your role whether or not it involves direct contact with patients.

You are likely aware from the numerous weekly COVID-19 bulletins – an important read for any member of the Trust, produced by the communications team, about several of the ways research and development (R&D) has played a part in our battle against COVID-19. Such as the SIREN study which recently celebrated its first year, and the PRINCIPLE Research Trial.

R&D has been part of a pilot project to ensure that all colleagues who work in the NHS know a little about the importance of research. With the help of colleagues in the communications team, we have used nationally created information to bring a consistent message to all colleagues.

To get involved with research at our Trust, please take a look at our new intranet Connect site ‘Best patient care, clinical research and you’ to learn more and find out what role you could play in research and development. You can find it by clicking here.

This guide raises general awareness so that staff members become more aware of their potential impact on research in their Trust. Its main focus is to be accessible, quick and easy to navigate so that staff can engage simply by using core messages, relevant links, pictures and visual material. This guide also helps the trust fulfil requirements in the CQC Well Led inspection Framework and the NHS Long Term Plan.

You will also find some key messages about the value of clinical research in NHS trusts as well as links to evidence which shows that research active Trusts have better patient outcomes. Most importantly however, the purpose of the guide is to give you some practical understanding of how your role can have a positive impact on improving patient care through supporting research.