Why is research and innovation important?
We are committed to our population living happier and healthier lives. Research is one way that we can make this happen by providing the evidence to improve treatments and care. This could be by testing new medicines or vaccines or by completing questionnaires to help us understand how people feel about the care they receive.
Benefits to taking part in research can include learning more about your health or receiving closer monitoring. Taking part in a project may not always help you directly, but you will be helping to improve services and treatments now and in the future.
To help us make sure research and innovation is embedded across our Integrated Care System, together we developed and published the first Research and Innovation Strategy for Norfolk and Waveney. Four principles underpin how we will work together as a system and state that research and innovation will be:
- Focused on our communities
- Driven by a confident and capable workforce
- Collaborative and coordinated
- Embedded in everything we do as a system
Since publication we have convened the ICS Research and Innovation leadership group, which met for the first time in September 2023. During this meeting we agreed to appoint leads for each strategy principle. These leads were responsible for having more in depth conversations with partners and to develop recommendations for how we implement the strategy. Four reports were produced and from this a set of recommendations were developed. These recommendations are here.
Over the coming months we will set up collaborative task and finish groups so begin the process of implementation.
If you have any comments or would like further information, please contact us via email: nwicb.researchinnovation@nhs.net
Where does research take place?
In Norfolk and Waveney research takes place across many health and care settings including GP surgeries, hospitals and in schools, prisons, care homes and other settings.
How can I get involved?
You might be invited to take part in research via your GP practice or local NHS Trust. More information about what it is like to take part in research and different ways to get involved can be found via the Be Part of Research national website and our local research in primary care website.
You can also take part by sharing your experiences to help identify research questions or shape the design of research projects, this is known as Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). Locally, the University of East Anglia’s Citizens Academy provides opportunities and training for PPIE in research at the university.
More information
Research takes place across the NHS in Norfolk and Waveney, more information can be found on the dedicated research webpages:
Norfolk and Waveney ICB (primary care and out of hospital settings)