Background

The Clinical Research Network (CRN), team in collaboration with research active practices in West Midlands, are about to move into the fourth year of a highly successful research incentive scheme (RIS). The RIS is designed to sustain and increase primary care research capacity across the area, incentivising responsiveness and commitment to research in GP practices.

Since its introduction in 2012, the scheme has grown and we now have a core group of practices who are committed to, and regularly take part in, NHS primary care research.  Incremental in design, it encourages practices new to research to get started, whilst helping others to progress to greater levels of involvement.

Core Requirements

There are a few conditions for a practice to satisfy in order to be eligible for the RIS and varying level of participation and remuneration. These include undertaking training to become ‘research capable’, and attending at least one local research meeting.

RIS practices receive funding to cover research infrastructure costs and receive additional payments for taking part in specific research studies dependent upon their complexity.

In 2013/14 a level one practice had to commit to 1-2 studies, a level two practice 3-5 studies; in addition, host practices have to commit to 4-6 studies. Host practices however, are, funded to host a research nurse to help in undertaking studies.

 An annual research symposium is held to bring together research active practices to share ideas and give feedback on the scheme. 

In 2013/14 the scheme included 53 practices across Coventry, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Some 29 practices have been working as level one practices, 17 at level two and 7 as host practices, where one of our research nurses is based for part of the week.

We asked RIS practices for their views on the RIS scheme:

“As a practice we thoroughly enjoy participating in research”

“We have a history of research in practice for over 20 years. The CRN team offer ways of formalising research within a practice and gets the whole team on board”

“The incentive scheme has been very good for us, in what has been a very busy year, the CRN team have been very proactive in helping us come on board with research”.

“We had a great time today. I am genuinely impressed with how comprehensively the NIHR team has dealt with the obstacles which hinder research. I have discussed this extensively . . . and we are prepared to make a significant investment of our time to attack some mutual objectives with you.”

2014/15 Research Incentive Scheme Opportunities

Good for practices because it:

· Recognises and supports the time spent on the preparatory work behind recruiting patients to studies

· Develops rapport with the local CRN team to understand individual practice needs

· Guides practices through the research governance process

· Financially rewards practices for research activity

· Raises awareness of research activities for patient populations

Good for CRN: West Midlands because it:

· Builds close relationships with local practices

· Enhances patient recruitment numbers to studies

· More effectively targets practices with relevant studies

· Increases timely responsiveness to study requests

Would you like to be Involved?

May 2014 saw the launch of the 2014/15 RIS scheme.  There remain a limited number of places for practices to take part. At an introductory level, for practices undertaking one study in the year payment starts at £1,000 and goes up dependent upon the level of research activity.

If you are interested in hearing more about the scheme please do get in touch with your research facilitator and a member of the team can visit and explain the scheme in more detail.