Research :: Medway Community Healthcare

Our Commitment To Research

At MCH we are committed to conducting, supporting and facilitating research across our community sites. We work to high standards making sure that our good clinical practice guidelines are at the heart of everything we do.

MCH has a vision that all services will be able to offer the people we care for the opportutnity to be involved in research.

Why we do Research

to provide the best evidence based advice and treatment for our patients
to improve patient care
improve the quality of life for people living with disease and illness
prevent disease and reduce the number of people who become ill
make sure the treatments we give are effective and safe
vital in providing the evidence we need to transform services and improve outcomes e.g. in developing new care models, redesigning urgent and emergency care, strengthening primary care and transforming mental health and cancer services.
to test new drugs, procedures, devices and equipment, providing access to treatment or tests that may not have been available as part of "standard or usual" care.
because its the right thing to do!!!

What the CQC say...

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recognised the impact of research by including research questions into the CQC inspection framework for the well-led catergory. This aims to help reinforce the role of research in delivering quality patient care.

What we do...

Support MCH services to become "research active" and deliver on Kent, Surrey & Sussex Clinical Research network portfolio studies.
Further develop and embed a research culture withi MCH by supporting additional training and education opportunities for staff and to "grow our own."
Support and review the governance process and framework for research within the organisation to ensure studies are delivered safely, and to time & target, in line with best practice guidelines.
engage in the Clinical Research network and Patient & Public involvement agenda.
act as ambassadors for the organisation, raising the profile of MCH as a "research active" organisation across KSS

Working in partnership

We are currently funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex to provide the infrastructure that allows the delivery high quality research within our organisation.

MCH is working closely with other services, universities, industries and with other NHS & non NHS healthcare providers to offer our patients the chance to take part in ground breaking research. Our aim is to be able to offer all our patients the chance to take part in research

Please contact us if you have been asked to support a research project within your specialities.

Who we work with...

	NIHR: The NIHR is the nation’s largest funder of health and care research and provide the people, facilities and technology that enable research to thrive.
	Research Design Service: The RDS supports researchers to develop high-quality grant applications for submission to NIHR and other national funding programmes.
	ARC Applied Research Collaborations: The NIHR ARC’s support applied health and care research that responds to, and meets, the needs of local populations and local health and care systems.
	AHSN Academic Health Science Network: AHSN’s are uniquely placed to unlock the power of frontline innovation, saving lives and money. They bridge gaps and strengthen connections between research, life sciences industry and healthcare.
	HRA Health Research Authority: This is the body that protects the rights, dignity and wellbeing of research participants.
	TRA Transform Research Alliance: The TRA is a collection of social enterprise healthcare organisations, including MCH, who provide NHS-funded health and social care services across England
	European research projects: Find out about the European research studies MCH are involved in.

Useful links

KSS Get Research Ready- The learning platform designed for early career researchers enables you to explore research within health and social care.
CQC Inspections & well led research organisations
Best Patient Care, Clinical Research and You Trust staff guide: A easy to use guide that helps all NHS staff members understand how their role can impact on reserach at MCH.
PRES Participant in Research Experience Survey: This survey is sent out to all participants who take part in research at MCH.
Be Part Of Research- search for studies in Kent looking for participants.
Clinical trials - NHS (www.nhs.uk) - All you need to know about Clinical Trials in the NHS