The NHS White Paper Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS heralds many changes in the way that decisions about health services are made.1 Some are clearly spelled out; for example, whereas currently services are commissioned by primary care trusts (PCTs) working within a framework set by strategic health authorities, these bodies will be replaced by GP consortia with slimmed down management structures. Other aspects of the reforms are less well developed, particularly with regard to the role that PCTs currently play in facilitating health research.
The government's commitment to health research appears clear. Indeed the White Paper emphasises that:
‘Supporting and promoting research and development will be a core function of the future Department of Health, and the Government remains committed to providing the right environment for innovation to flourish.’ (para 3.46)
At a national level, the new NHS Commissioning Board will have duties to promote involvement in research and the use of research evidence, but it is less clear how these responsibilities will be met locally. It seems likely that, along with a host of other activities, responsibility for research will fall to GP consortia.
There may be several advantages in GP commissioners taking a lead role on research locally. As …