Update: NHS England Letter – Best Practice in the Oversight and Staffing of Clinical Research
Date: 2 June 2025
On Friday 30th May 2025, NHS England (NHSE) issued a letter to all Chief Finance Officers and R&D Directors of NHS Trusts, Practice Managers and Partners in General Practice and Finance Leads in Primary Care Networks setting out best practice in the oversight and staffing of clinical research. The letter, which can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/letter-board-oversight-staffing-nhs-clinical-trials/ emphasises the importance of maintaining research activity during this current period of significant pressure, uncertainty and change in the NHS.
The Trustees wish to thank all of you who have shared with us examples of challenges you have faced and continue to face in recruiting to new and replacement research funded posts, extending staff contracts, cost recovery pressures and defending of research budgets.
Such examples were referenced in a joint letter sent to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHSE on 20th March 2025, signed by Angela Topping on behalf of the R&D Forum, Nick McNally on behalf of UKRD and Saul Faust on behalf of UHA.
We have been in joint dialogue with DHSC/NHSE since then, providing further updates and evidence.
The issue of oversight and staffing of clinical research is complex, and with the current system pressures, is highly sensitive. As with anything that is complex, the challenges we face will not be solved immediately, but we hope that this letter from NHSE emphasising the importance of research to NHS Trusts, General Practices and Primary Care Networks is the start of an ongoing dialogue of how we, as a system, can and will work together to embed research in all health and care settings.
The letter also demonstrates the power and influence of the R&D community, and, by working with colleagues in UKRD and UHA, our collective voice is listened to by funders and policy makers.
We will continue to share updates with you, and we would be grateful if you would continue to share your feedback and experiences with us to keep the dialogue going.