I have been asked to forward the message below regarding the research
capacity regarding MEDICAL STATISTICS within the NHS and University
medical schools. Please reply directly to Dr Elizabeth Clough
([log in to unmask]).
Thanks,
Keith.
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Request for advice from Dr Elizabeth Clough, Assistant Director of
R+D, Trent Regional Office, NHS Executive
I am a member of the national group, chaired by Professor Cliff
Bailey, (Regional Director of R+D, Northern + Yorkshire Region), which
is charged with implementing the recommendations of an NHS Executive
report on workforce capacity for R+D in the NHS.
Recommendation 2 of the report reads as follows:
"Shortage of R+D Expertise
In the short term, DH should commission work, in collaboration with
other R+D funders, to identify current and future needs for R+D
skills, their potential supply and configuration, and any shortages,
with clear recommendations on how those shortages should be addressed
by DH R+D function and other research partners."
It is recognised that the various professional groups
within the NHS workforce will have different capacity development
needs. A series of discipline specific subgroups (doctors and
dentists, pharmacists, nurses, scientists, therapists, managers and
other support professionals) are being established to consider
profession-specific problems.
I have been charged with the responsibility of seeking views and
advice from the professions which support Health Services Research
(HSR) (health economics, MEDICAL STATISTICS, medical sociology, health
psychology, epidemiology and anthropology). It has been suggested that
a good way of consulting widely would be via a discussion group such
as yours on the internet. The brief is to obtain an overview of the
present state of research capacity regarding medical statistics. How
can the Department of Health address current shortages in teh
profession? Is there any clarity about how the research capacity of
the profession will change over the next 5 years? Dr Keith Abrams
suggested that I might use your e-mail list as a means of obtaining
advice and views of teh medical statistics community. I would be
extremely grateful for any responses which will be anonymously
reported.
I offer some prompt questions below;
Approximate size of the professional group in the UK?
Number of trained researchers needed? Number of trained
researchers currently available?
What research qualifications are most commonly sought?
What research training schemes are needed?
Is there demand for distance and open learning packages in R+D?
What funding schemes are available or are needed, e.g. fellowships,
bursaries etc?
What happens to those who have had research training?
Is research training considered to be a career enhancing opportunity?
What are the gaps in the research base and how might these be filled?
What are the barriers to research participation?
What research capacity needs to be developed?
Does any work need to be commissioned to address issues associated
with research capacity?
Thank you,
Dr Elizabeth Clough
[log in to unmask]
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