£22.5 million research funded to improve UK health and social care

Health and social care specialists are joining for a multi-million-pound research initiative that is anticipated to bring about significant changes to policies in the UK

The University of Stirling are participating in a consortium of nine newly formed groups that will investigate research gaps in public health, health and social care over the next five years.

The group is named NESSIE (NIHR Evidence Synthesis Scotland InitiativE), and is based in Scotland.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will provide £2.5 million in funding to each group, totaling £22.5 million.

The health and social care researcher institutes include:

• The University of Stirling
• The Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Each group will undertake public health and social care providers and stakeholder projects, as well as patient communities and members of the public.

Why is the National Institute for Health and Care Research funding these groups?

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) aim to improve the health of the nation through research.

They fund high-quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, and have world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services.

NIHR partners with patients, service users, carers, and communities, to improve research to tackle complex health and social care challenges.

Their funding comes from further collaborations with other public funders, charities, and industries to shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system, even for those in the poorest low- and middle-income countries.

Building on existing health and social care research

Leading the team from Stirling are Dr. Peter Matthews, an expert in a social policy known for his research on housing and urban inequalities, and Associate Professor Emma France, renowned for her qualitative research, particularly focusing on families dealing with long-term health conditions.

Dr Matthews said: “It is exciting to be part of such a wide-reaching programme, and we look forward to working with our NESSIE counterparts to both build on existing research and identify areas which will need more research in the future.”

Professor France said: “This type of research impacts decisions made on clinical guidance, health and social care policy that, ultimately, we hope will make improvements to people’s lives across the UK.”

Professor Lesley Stewart, Programme Director for NIHR’s Evidence Synthesis Programme, said: “The groups will combine research rigour with responsiveness to deliver high-quality evaluation and syntheses of existing research studies to match stakeholder needs.

“These will support evidence-informed decision-making and ultimately help improve the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and experience of health and social care provision.