National recognition for NHS Trust research culture

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Research Team has been recognised by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for their role in promoting clinical research in the NHS.

The certificate, awarded last month recognises the contribution of the team and their continued support in promoting clinical research in the NHS.

Research and Development Manager, Lisa Vickers said: “We set out to improve the research culture at the Trust to make it part of the core business for everyone. This included running research and development on true business principles, with key service level agreements for support services, as well as financial support for the effective delivery of research.

“We set the principle that improving the research culture would benefit patients and staff. A major aspect of the initiative was using clear pathways to take away the administrative burden and provide the clinician with relevant support.

“We are pleased to have been recognised for our work and we are continuing to grow research in a very positive way. We are here to support our colleagues and the department is growing in size as our research is becoming more complex.

“As a result of our efforts, clinical trials which would not have previously been offered to the Trust are now available at Derriford Hospital. Above all, the Trust now has a profile of a truly research active establishment, which acts to attract high-calibre staff. This is a significant benefit to patients in the South West, with a resulting improvement in their healthcare.”

The NIHR is a large, multi-faceted and nationally distributed organisation, funded through The Department of Health to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.