GRS Blog

NHS workshop at Bench-to-Boardroom event a great success

13/3/2012

After a very heated debate about the NHS at the 2011 One Nucleus Bench-to-Boardroom event, on Tuesday the 6th of March this year I stood in front of my audience with some trepidation.  I had learnt from last year's experience, however, and rather than trying to embrace the reforming NHS as a whole I focused on how research is now becoming an integral part of daily activities.

I was keen to share my experience and knowledge with the delegates and to encourage them to reciprocate but first I did lay down some ground rules! - "there are no rights or wrongs, simply perception and opinion".

When preparing for this workshop, I realised that even though one of our Government's objectives for the NHS is for more harmonisation and a 'single point of contact' for research, the reality is that there are still many different departments which a researcher can approach.  It was also clear from the workshop delegates that many of them were aware of these different departments but were totally confused as to which one should be approached first.  May be there should be a "research pathway" in the same way as there are "clinical pathways"?

The NHS remains a controversial and sensitive subject with there being many worries about its future.  This workshop provided an ideal environment for discussion and the exchange of ideas with many attendees making a very active contribution.

On behalf of GRS, I'd like to thank One Nucleus for organising yet another excellent event.  There was a real buzz in the air this year, probably kick started by Professor Sir Christopher Evans' very direct keynote speech.  You'll understand what I mean when you read this blog!

Comment by Greer Deal, Director of Global Regulatory Services (GRS)