Introduction

Everyone providing or supporting care in the NHS uses research, but not everyone is necessarily aware of this on a day to day basis.

At the core of all good clinical training and practice is evidence which can be trusted. Evidence which can be trusted arises from the process of systematically finding out what works and does not work. This process is research.

Research allows us to achieve excellence in patient care - it is the process by which we continually increase our scientific knowledge. It's important to bear in mind that research does not solely take place in a laboratory. The majority of health research activity in the UK takes place where patients are, and where you are: in the NHS.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) provides a proven clinical research infrastructure that facilitates and funds this but, for it to work really well and to continually improve, everyone who has responsibility for providing an NHS service has a part to play.

This guide explains who, what and how within Provide CIC influences Well-Led Research. You will also find some key messages from your colleagues at Provide about the value of clinical research, and links to evidence which shows that research-active providers have better patient outcomes.

Most importantly however, the purpose of the guide is to give you some practical understanding of how your role can have a positive impact on improving patient care through supporting research.