see also:  http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2002/health.htm


16 May 2002
Press release
Fund and award schemes to boost capacity of high quality research related to
nursing and professions allied to medicine
Embargoed until 1500 hours on Thursday 16 May 2002

The HEFCE and the Department of Health have agreed to establish a fund to
increase the amount of high quality research related to nursing and allied
health professions, Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of the Higher
Education Funding Council for England, announced today (16 May).

Speaking at a meeting of the Council of Deans and Heads of UK Faculties for
Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in York, Sir Howard also announced
two new award schemes at doctoral and post-doctoral levels for future
research leaders.

Sir Howard said the announcements were based on the recommendations of a
task group, chaired by Professor Janet Finch, Vice-Chancellor of Keele
University, which looked at how high-quality research relevant to nurses and
professions allied to medicine could be better supported.

The report, which was based on independent research, found that research in
this area was significantly underfunded in comparison with other comparable
professions such as teaching, and that the available funding was skewed
towards short-term projects.

Sir Howard said he was struck by the eagerness of the nursing and allied
health professional community to engage with the task of supporting evidence
based practise in the professions and creating new knowledge. The task
group's report presented a clear case for nursing research and a plan for
investment to realise its potential.

Sir Howard said that HEFCE and the DH had accepted the report's key
recommendation that a fund should be established to support the development
of research capacity in nursing and allied health professions.

'I can announce today that we will be establishing a strategic funding
committee with a broad remit to examine what we should fund, how we should
fund it and how much support it will require. The committee will have an
ongoing remit to advise the HEFCE and DH and will be asked to report
publicly on progress towards a mature and dynamic research base.'
'I am also delighted to announce that Professor Janet Finch has agreed to
chair the committee. Together with her we will be looking to identify other
members in the very near future.'

Sir Howard said that while the amount of funding HEFCE could contribute
would depend on the outcome of this summer's Spending Review, it was
important to maintain the momentum that had built up following the
publication of the Task Group's report last November (Note 1). 'We think it
is important to start now.'

Director of Research, Analysis and Information at the Department of Health,
Professor Sir John Pattison said:

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with HEFCE on this exciting
new initiative, both to address the needs of nurses and allied health
professionals as well as develop new research.
"Nurses and allied health professionals are already key to the delivery of
patient care in the NHS. This fund will give them the chance to develop not
only their own roles but new practices that will benefit everybody who uses
and works in the health service."

Sir Howard also announced the creation of two new award schemes to enable
individuals to develop their research skills in order to maximise their
contribution to health care research.

Researcher Development Awards are intended to identify individuals of
outstanding potential early in their research careers and 'fast track' them
by supporting them in a research training environment with a training
programme, which reflects individual talents and needs. These are doctoral
awards for three or four years.

Post Doctoral Awards are intended for individuals who as yet do not have
sufficient experience as independent researchers to apply for a Career
Scientist Award but who have already obtained their doctoral degree. These
post doctoral awards are for three or fours years.

Ends
Notes to Editors
1.    The report 'Research in nursing and allied health professions: Report
of the Task Group 3 to HFCE and the Department of Health' (HEFCE 01/63) is
available from HEFCE publications (tel 0117 931 7035) and on the HEFCE
web-site www.hefce.ac.uk , under 'Publications'.

2.    Applications forms and guidance notes for the National Nursing and
Allied Health Professional awards are available on the Department of Health
web-site at www.doh.gov.uk/research. For further information on the awards,
contact Mrs Alison Pighills on 0113 233 6668/7.

3.    Allied health professionals comprise a wide range of staff including:
physiotherapists, occupational therapists, arts therapist, chiropodists,
speech & language therapists, dieticians, laboratory staff, radiographers
and paramedics.



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