The Faculty of Public Health supports the call from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for Government and other key stakeholders to prioritise research and innovation within the NHS.
Strong research and innovation across the health and care system is fundamental to protecting and improving population health, tackling health inequalities, and ensuring communities at local, regional, and national level have access to safe, effective, and equitable care.
Whilst the UK’s research community has historically played a leading role globally – enabled by a health system which has prioritised and supported research – this role cannot be taken for granted.
Medical research is currently under threat across the Four Nations of the UK, and we are seeing a decline in clinical academic numbers, health and care staff reporting they have less capacity to undertake research, and inadequate resourcing and training pathways for academic research.
Effective, well-resourced research is fundamental to public health, and the Faculty supports the Academy’s calls to;
- Ring-fence time for research in job plans for those who have demonstrated research potential, or who have a substantive research leadership role.
- Ensure there is proper provision for research during training.
- Compel all trusts (and devolved equivalents) to report research metrics, including how research funding is distributed.
- Introduce standardised metrics across the UK to monitor research activity of Integrated Care Boards, Trust Boards, and devolved equivalents.
