Primary Care Support in North Thames
Who we are and what we do
We are the CRN North Thames Primary Care Team, and we bring together a wide variety of primary care health and care professionals including General Practioners (GPs), Dentists and Pharmacists, to offer patients in primary care settings increased opportunities to become involved in high quality clinical research studies.
We provide support for the coordination of study set-up, site selection and delivery of research in primary care and the wider community. We support a wide range of research in primary care, including studies that look at:
- Disease diagnosis and prevention
- Management of long-term illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension
- Prevention of future ill-health
- Treating common conditions such as tonsillitis or influenza
How we can support you
If you are working in a primary care setting and are interested in engaging in research, please get in touch with us at primarycare.crnnorththames@nihr.ac.uk.
The North Thames Primary Care Team can support you with:
- Identifying suitable research studies for your practice
- Completion of expression of interest forms for both portfolio and commercial studies
- Educating and assisting administrative staff within practices to undertake research activities
- Provide dedicated research nurses or practitioners to support research delivery
- Regular support meetings
Support across the region
We have two dedicated and highly experienced delivery teams that support across the North Thames Region; Noclor and the LEH Primary Care Team.
These cover the following regions in North Thames CRN. We cover over 724 practices
Noclor covers:
- North Central London Integrated Care System
- North East London Integrated Care System
LEH covers:
- Luton, Essex and Herts Valley
- Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System
- Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System
- Luton, Bedforshire, Milton Keynes (part of it)
The benefits
The benefits for practices participating in research can include:
- Personal development for staff, appraisals, additional training and CPD
- Additional options for patients and the practice to offer
- Dedicated clinical support (research nurses/ facilitators) funded through the CRN
- Financial Remuneration – dependent on the types of studies (commercial generates higher income)
- Financial Incentives for involvement – RSI scheme for practices in the Luton, Essex and Herts Valley region
Funding
The RCGP Research Ready® accreditation programme
Research Ready is a programme which gives information, guidance and support to research-active GP practices; and provides a method by which practices can demonstrate they are aware of and meet the standards necessary to undertake primary care research.
The Associate Principal Investigator Scheme is a unique NIHR development opportunity, aimed at any health and care professional who would like to get more involved in research as part of their career. The scheme is open to health and care professionals who do not have research as a core part of their role but wish to gain skills and experience in participating in NIHR Portfolio research.
Getting started
If you have a research idea, but not sure how to turn it into a funding application. Please reach out to the Research Design Service (RDS).
The RDS provides support to health, social care and public health researchers across England on all aspects of developing and writing a funding application, including research design, research methods, identifying funding sources and involving patients and the public. Advice is confidential and free of charge.