South Yorkshire’s Community of Practice for Research in Primary Care
South Yorkshire’s Community of Practice for Research in Primary Care was established in September 2021. We meet three times a year, to offer peer support and informal education for people working in Primary and Community Care, with an interest in research.
The broad range of experience within the group provides an opportunity for people to learn from some of the very experienced Research Nurses we are fortunate to have working within South Yorkshire, offering support to staff that are taking their first steps into research.
Everyone is welcome! Whether you are a Nurse, Nurse Associate or Health Care Assistant. Our group continues to expand, including Administrative and Management staff as well as other health care professionals working in Primary Care: Nursing Associates, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and other Allied Health Professionals.
Research is an essential and rewarding part of effective care and we are working to embed this across the Primary Care workforce.
For more information email: johannawhite@nhs.net
Research is for everyone!
Research is fundamental for advancing healthcare, driving innovations in treatments, diagnostics, and care delivery. Healthcare settings, from large hospitals to local clinics, play a crucial role in this process by recruiting patients to take part in studies and carrying out the activities that generate study data. Medical studies not only contribute to scientific knowledge but also potentially bring benefits to the participating institutions.
Uncovering the hidden benefits of research in General Practice
Healthcare advancements are driven by research and healthcare settings play a crucial role in this process by recruiting patients to take part. There’s growing evidence that research-active hospitals show better patient outcomes, but the impact of research activity in primary care settings has been explored in as much detail. Here, Sophie Park, our Professor of Primary Care and Clinical Education discusses recent research she conducted with colleagues across the UK to examine the benefits of taking part in research for primary care practices.
Does your surgery offer patients the opportunity to take part in research?
An increase in GP practices taking part in research last year enabled more people to take part in clinical trials on their doorstep.
Data from the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) shows that during 2023/24 more than half of all GP practices in England (56%) took part in clinical research supported by the CRN. A total of 3,606 practices were involved – a 12 percentage point increase compared to the previous year.
A total of 270,538 participants in England were recruited to CRN-supported research via primary care; this represents just over a quarter (26%) of all recruitment to CRN-supported studies. These studies focused on a range of conditions including cancer, dementia and depression.
GPs taking part in research does not affect their ability to carry out regular GP appointments. The additional time for GPs to carry out research outside their usual practice is funded either through commercial companies or by NIHR Local Clinical Research Networks.
Current Primary and Community Care Study Opportunities
Take a look at the research studies which are currently being delivered in Yorkshire and Humber.
Here are some links to find out more about developing your interest and skills in research:
Introduction to health and care research
If you’re new to health and care research and you want to find out more, the NIHR offer a range of support and training to help you: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/health-and-care-research-introduction
Research roles for nurses and midwives
There are many exciting career options in research for nurses and midwives which will help improve practice and how we care for people: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/support-by-profession/nurses-and-midwives/research-roles
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Training
GCP is the agreed international standard for conducting clinical research.
The NIHR offer free Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training courses for people supporting clinical research delivery at the NHS, UK universities and other publicly funded organisations in England: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/clinical-research-courses-and-support/good-clinical-practice
The Associate Principal Investigator Scheme
Principal Investigator (PI) is an individual responsible for the conduct of a research study at a site. The Associate PI Scheme is a six month in-work training opportunity, providing practical experience for health and care professionals starting their research career.
Associate Principal Investigators receive formal recognition of engagement in NIHR Portfolio research studies through the certification of Associate PI status, endorsed by the NIHR and Royal Colleges: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/clinical-research-courses-and-support/associate-principal-investigator-scheme
If you would like to know more about South Yorkshire’s Community of Practice for Research in Primary Care. Please contact Johanna White, Senior Research Leader: Nursing and Midwifery.
Email Johanna White
