Useful Links

We recognise that it is often difficult and time consuming to find information on the internet so we have compiled the following links to assist individuals and groups interested in primary care research. We welcome additions to the list, please contact Denys Hancock with any suggestions.

The list is subdivided into sections which focus on particular types of sites:

· General health research and development
· Research ethics and governance
· Consumer and user involvement
· General guidance, standards and information
· Research funding
· Literature searching, evidence databases and journals
· Societies and information
· Academic departments and centres
· Research networks

General health research and development    [top of page]

Department of Health
This is the home page of the comprehensive Department of Health website. There are links, publications and resources here.
www.dh.gov.uk

Chief Scientist Office (CSO)
The CSO supports and promotes high quality research aimed at improving healthcare and services to patients delivered by the NHS Scotland.
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso/

National NHS R&D Programme
This site is part of the Department of Health website and contains information on three research programmes and three cross-cutting programmes supported by the Department. Details are given about each programme and funding/ awards opportunities.
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/ResearchAndDevelopment/NHSLightHouseProject/fs/en

NHS R&D Forum
The NHS R&D Forum acts as an interface between NHS R&D staff and the Department of Health, disseminates information and facilitates the sharing of best practice. This site has a great deal of resources that will be of use.
www.rdforum.nhs.uk

RD Direct
RDDirect is a friendly, professional signposting service for all researchers working in health and social care settings
www.rddirect.org.uk

RD Learning
A database of health-related training oppotunities
www.rdlearning.org.uk

CHAIN (Contacts, Help, Advice, Information, Networking)
This is a site for accessing online networks for people working in health and social care. They are based around specific areas of interest, and give people a simple and informal way of contacting each other to exchange ideas and share knowledge.
http://chain.ulcc.ac.uk/chain/chain.htm

Ethics    [top of page]

Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (COREC)
COREC oversees all NHS research ethics committees and this site provides the standardised research ethics application form as well as essential information on how and when to make an application to a research ethics committee.
www.corec.org.uk

ERIC (Ethics Research Information Catalogue)
ERIC is a collection of information and articles on research ethics that will be of use to researchers, members of the public and members of research ethics committees.
www.eric-on-line.co.uk

Nuffield Council on Bioethics
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics examines the ethical issues raised by new developments in biology and medicine. This site provides a range of resources and comment on topical debates.
www.nuffieldbioethics.org

Medical Research Council (MRC) Ethics Series of Papers
The MRC have published a number of papers on ethical issues that set standards by which medical research is undertaken.
www.mrc.ac.uk/index/publications/publications-ethics_and_best_practice/publications-ethics_series.htm

In addition to these sites listed here most professional organisations such as the British Sociological Association and The British Psychological Society also publish ethical guidelines that may be relevant. The can usually accessed via the sites homepage which are listed in the section ‘Societies and Information’.

Consumer Involvement    [top of page]

INVOLVE (Formerly known as Consumers in NHS Research)
INVOLVE aims to promote public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research. INVOLVE’s Support Unit offers advice and support to consumers, researchers and those working in the NHS about consumer involvement in research and development. The site lists many useful links and publications.
www.invo.org.uk

Folk.us
Folk.us is a local group in Devon that aims to promote and encourage user involvement in research. They are funded by the Department of Health. Their website has an excellent range of links and resources.
http://latis.ex.ac.uk/folk.us/findex.htm

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH)
CPPIH is an independent, non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Health. Its remit is to ensure that the public is involved in decision making about health and health services.
www.cppih.org

General guidance, standards and information    [top of page]

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
AIGN aims to improve the quality of health care for patients in Scotland by reducing variation in practice and outcome, through the development and dissemination of national clinical guidelines containing recommendations for effective practice based on current evidence.
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/SIGN

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland aims to lead on improving the quality of NHS care and treatment in Scotland. It is responsible for all Scottish NHS services and independently checks quality being provided. Actions and recommendations are published.
www.nhshealthquality.org

The Healthcare Commission (formerly known as CHI)
The Healthcare Commission aims to improve the quality of healthcare in England and Wales.
www.healthcarecommission.org.uk
www.chi.nhs.uk (for archived information)

National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
NICE makes recommendations on best practice and treatment using available evidence.
www.nice.org.uk

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
SCIE promotes good practice in social care by reviewing and disseminating evidence.
www.scie.org.uk

The NHS Modernisation Agency (MA)
The MA is designed to support the NHS and its partner organisations in the task of modernising services and improving experiences and outcomes for patients. The site details action by subject and achievements so far.
www.modernnhs.nhs.uk

The NHS
This home site for the NHS provides information on NHS services and careers.
www.nhs.uk

Research funding    [top of page]

Medical Research Council (MRC)
The MRC is a major funder of academic medical, clinical and health research in the UK. There are various funding programmes and awards as well as guidance on research issues.
www.mrc.ac.uk

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The ESRC is a major funder of academic social science research in the UK. The site details funding opportunities and awards programmes as well as providing social science information.
www.esrc.ac.uk

RD Info
RD info is an online database supported by the Department of Health that comprehensively lists opportunities available to people searching for research funding.
www.rdinfo.org.uk

Literature searching, evidence databases and journals    [top of page]

NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
CRD undertakes reviews of research about the effects of interventions used in health and social care. Various databases are available to search.
www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/

University of London Library
Contains a catalogue of material in London University College libraries and locations.
www.ull.ac.uk

British Library
Information about the British Library in London and the Document Supply Centre in Boston Spa as well as details of how to join and access material.
www.bl.uk

National Research Register (NRR)
An online database of all Department of Health/ NHS supported R&D projects. Information is updated quarterly by electronic return and detail is increasing.
www.update-software.com/National

National Electronic Library for Health (NELH) and NELH for Primary Care
Excellent online library for health resources including specialist sections and access to many of the databases listed here. Also including specific primary care librbary.
www.nelh.nhs.uk
www.nelh-pc.nhs.uk

PubMed
Online database containing abstracts on medical, clinical and health related published journal articles. Search function via MESH headings.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed

Bath Information and Data Services (BIDS)
Online database containing abstracts on social science, education and psychological published journal articles.
www.bids.ac.uk

Bandolier
Monthly journal focusing on evidence-based healthcare produced by Oxford University team
www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier

Omni
A site that offers free access to a searchable catalogue of hand-selected and evaluated, quality Internet resources in Health and Medicine
www.omni.ac.uk

Science Direct
Very large electronic collection of science, technology and medicine full text and bibliographic information
www.sciencedirect.com

Social Science Information Gateway (SOSIG)
Information gateway for information related to social science
www.sosig.ac.uk

Social Research Online
Online social research journal with free access to full text articles
www.socresonline.org.uk

Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine
Open-access medical journal with online searching from the Public Library of Science
www.plosmedicine.org

British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Online searching for free full text articles published in the BMJ and the ability to contribute ‘Rapid Responses’ to papers
www.bmj.com

Health Service Journal (HSJ)
Weekly journal concerning all aspects of the NHS
www.hsj.co.uk

The Lancet
Medical journal with abstract searching facility
www.thelancet.com

British Journal of General Practice
Peer-reviewed journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/journal/index2.asp?member=no

Societies and information    [top of page]

Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
Site provides in depth information for GPs, primary care staff and those involved in research. Research pages provide information on primary care research team assessment, training, funding and resources.
www.rcgp.org.uk
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/webmaster/sectionintros/research.asp

Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Professional body for all nurses. The site provides a range of information and resources.
www.rcn.org.uk

British Psychological Society (BPS)
BPS provides a wealth of resources on psychology.
www.bps.org.uk

British Sociological Association (BSA)
Association for sociologists and those interested in the study of sociology.
www.btritsoc.co.uk

British Medical Association (BMA)
A voluntary association of doctors that provides information and supports doctors.
www.bma.org.uk

Royal Pharmaceutical Society for Great Britain
The regulatory and professional body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales, the primary objective of the RPSGB is to lead, regulate and develop the pharmacy profession.
www.rpsgb.org.uk

British Dental Association
Professional association and trade union for dentists in the UK.
www.bda-dentistry.org.uk

Faculty of General Dental Practitioners
Based in the Royal College of Surgeons, this is the home for the general dental practitioners that focuses on professional development, dissemination and supporting dentists.
http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/dental/fgdp

Royal College of Opthalmologists
Society for opthalmologists proving information and support across a range of areas.
www.rcophth.ac.uk

British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
BASW, the largest association representing social work and social workers in the UK, provides support and advice.
www.basw.co.uk

Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC)
Society for those involved in primary care research and/ or based in academic departments.
www.sapc.ac.uk

International Federation of Primary Care Research Networks (IFPCRN)
This group aims to link primary care research networks from around the globe.
http://groups.msn.com/IFPCRN

National Respiratory Training Centre
The National Respiratory Training Centre is an impartial education and research establishment for health professionals which aims to improve the care of patients who suffer from respiratory or allergic disease. Educational programmes are run nationally and internationally and are accredited by the Open University.
www.nrtc.org.uk

Academic departments and centres    [top of page]

This is not an exhaustive list of academic departments and centres by any means. We are happy to add yours to this. Please just get in touch and provide details.

Primary Care Sciences Research Centre
University of Keele
www.keele.ac.uk/depts/pcs/

Centre for Health Service Studies (CHSS)
University of Kent
http://www.kent.ac.uk/chss/frames/index.htm

School of Population and Health Sciences, Primary Health Care Speciality
University of Newcastle
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/pahs/about/primary.htm

RCN R&D Co-ordinating Centre
University of Manchester
www.man.ac.uk/rcn

Department of Community Health Sciences (General Practice and Primary Care)
St George's Hospital Medical School
www.sghms.ac.uk/depts/gp

Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Division of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine
Kings College London
www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/medicine/gppc/

Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery
Kings College London
www.kcl.ac.uk/nursing

Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences
Kingston University
www.healthcare.ac.uk/fhscs/welcome/default.htm

Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, Division of Primary Care and Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Imperial College
wwwfom.sk.med.ic.ac.uk/med/about/divisions/pcphs/phcgp

Department of Primary Care and General Practice
University of Birmingham
www.pcpoh.bham.ac.uk/primarycare/

School of Health and Social Care
University of Teeside
http://www.tees.ac.uk/schools/SOH/index.cfm

School of Health, Natural and Social Sciences
University of Sunderland
http://restal.sunderland.ac.uk/sciences/

Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Faculty of Clinical Sciences University College London
www.ucl.ac.uk/primcare-popsci

Research networks    [top of page]

BRG - Wandsworth Primary Care Research Centre
Primary care research centre based in Wandsworth PCT, SW London.
www.wandsworthpct.nhs.uk/work/randd

CAPRICORN
The Cymru alliance of primary care oriented research.
www.capricorn.uk.net/capricorn

EastRen (Formerly TayReN)
East of Scotland Primary Care Research Network.
www.eastren.co.uk

KSSNet
Primary care research network for Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
www.surrey.ac.uk/kssnet

Lewisham Research Unit (LRU)
Primary care research unit based in Lewisham, South East London.
www.lru.org.uk

Mersey Primary Care R&D Consortium
A primary care research network of GP practices covering area from Southport to Bootle and Liverpool to South Cheshire.
www.merseayprimarycare.org

MRC GP Research Framework
An organisation of over 1000 general practices throughout the UK involved in epidemiological, primary care and health services research, managed on behalf of the Medical Research Council.
www.mrc-gprf.ac.uk

NAPCRG
Primary care research network for North America.
www.napcrg.org

NOCLOR
Primary care research network for North and Central London.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/primcare-popsci/nocten/

NorDRIL
Research group that facilitates high quality primary dental care research in Northern England.
www.nordril.co.uk

NoReN
Northern primary care research network
www.noren.co.uk

RCGP Research Group
Research Group of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
www.rcgp.org.uk/webmaster/sectionintros/research.asp?ID=8&sub=0

STaRNet (South Thames Research Network)
Primary care research network covering South London.
www.starnetlondon.org

SuNet
Suffolk and Norfolk Primary Care Research Network.
www.sunet.co.uk

Trent Focus
Primary care research network covering Nottingham, Sheffield and Leicester.
www.trentfocus.org.uk

WeLReN
WeLReN is a multidisciplinary network of primary care individuals and practices in West London.
www.welren.org

WReN
A group of primary care practitioners in the Wessex region interested in research in general practice.
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~wren/index.htm

The UKF-PCRN is not responsible for material on any sites linked to from this page.

To submit a link for inclusion on this page please go to the contact page and fill in the form entering your URL in the field named 'Your URL'.