Seeking allies in the quest for research
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) represent the third largest professional workforce in health and social care and their contributions are critical to the development and delivery of high quality, patient-centred clinical research.
In a drive to call attention to the research capability and activities of AHP researchers in London, last week CRN North Thames joined forces with CRN North West London and leading London-based Trusts, to present a London AHP Research Champions road show event.
The event, “London AHPs in research – making it happen in practice”, took place in Tottenham Court Road on 13 September and was hosted by the pan-London teams, with high profile speakers from Barts Health NHS Trust, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal National Orthopedic Hospital NHS Trust.
Professor Gary Frost, Chair in Nutrition and Dietetics at Imperial College London also addressed attendees, with an engaging key-note speech on the value of AHP research in Clinical Practice. Speaking after the event he said:
“Allied Health Professionals form a critical part of the multidisciplinary team that deal with some of the most complex patients with multimorbidity’s across acute and community care. There is a critical need for high quality research to strength pathways of care. AHP’s need to be encouraged to embrace the importance of been active in research as much as clinical practice.”
Over 40 delegates attended the event to learn more about the research capability, capacity and activity across London NHS Trusts. Speakers called attention to the potential benefits of AHP research on practice and service delivery, as well as for staff development, recruitment and retention.
Information on support and funding opportunities were provided and case studies exemplified how AHP research is happening in practice and enabled in London NHS Trusts.
Dr Jennifer Wenborn, AHP research champion for North Thames headed organisation of the event and was delighted by its success. She said:
“This has been a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of Allied Health Professionals, who are so intrinsic to the vital research conducted across London NHS Trusts. We hope that the message will now spread further so that even more of the benefits of clinical research can be realised for AHPs in London, their patients and our NHS organisations.”
- If you would like to find out more about getting involved in research as an AHP, please contact the North Thames AHP Research Champion, Dr JenniferWenborn, at: j.wenborn@ucl.ac.uk
