One of the organisations I work with is the North-West London Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN). The North-West CLRN is one of 25 CLRNs across England which form part of the NIHR Comprehensive Clinical Research Network (CCRN). The CCRN provides support for clinical trials and other well designed studies in all areas of disease and clinical need. A key role for the CLRN is providing infrastructure support for studies on the NIHR Portfolio. Part of this infrastructure support is in primary care. On October 7th 2009, the CLRN held a meeting with some of the local GPs and other primary care staff who collaborate with the CLRN.
One of the key points arising from the meeting was the need to get more NIHR portfolio studies active in primary care in NW London. IT issues were also discussed, particularly the need for expertise to run queries on GP Electronic Patient Record Systems such as EMIS and Vision. The need to continue reimbursement of practice expenses and also to offer additional value to GPs through involvement in research design and planning, access to training etc was also discussed, as was the high administrative workload in processing invoices for service support costs from a large number of general practices. We also discussed the need to review current levels of Clinical Study Officer (CSO) provision and to increase this if warranted by a rising number of accruals. The need for high-level GP/academic input to overcome some of the blocks that can be present in primary care research by liaising with relevant senior staff in PCTs and practices was also raised.
We will take forward these points in future CLRN meetings and with the Primary Care Research Network for Greater London (PCRN-GL).
One of the key points arising from the meeting was the need to get more NIHR portfolio studies active in primary care in NW London. IT issues were also discussed, particularly the need for expertise to run queries on GP Electronic Patient Record Systems such as EMIS and Vision. The need to continue reimbursement of practice expenses and also to offer additional value to GPs through involvement in research design and planning, access to training etc was also discussed, as was the high administrative workload in processing invoices for service support costs from a large number of general practices. We also discussed the need to review current levels of Clinical Study Officer (CSO) provision and to increase this if warranted by a rising number of accruals. The need for high-level GP/academic input to overcome some of the blocks that can be present in primary care research by liaising with relevant senior staff in PCTs and practices was also raised.
We will take forward these points in future CLRN meetings and with the Primary Care Research Network for Greater London (PCRN-GL).
Comments