Primary care trusts and primary care research

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7482.56

BMJ 2005;330:56-57 (8 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7482.56

Editorial

Primary care trusts and primary care research

Research networks and academic departments can help to do muchneeded research

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Primary care is central to the NHS and primary care researchprovides "the missing link in the development of high quality,evidence based health care for populations."^1
2 The recent developmentof primary care trusts, which are responsible for commissioninglocal health services, has changed the landscape for primarycare research in the NHS.³ In addition to their already formidableservice duties, primary care trusts also have research responsibilities.⁴Unfortunately, the competing demands on primary care trustsfor establishing research governance and meeting governmenttargets have made primary care research a luxury that few trustscan afford.

Despite the government's documented commitment to primary caretrusts and their role in primary care research, scepticism existsabout the ability of the trusts to take on this role. In a 2002House of Lords debate, Baroness Northover questioned the healthminister on the responsibilities of primary care trusts, saying,"Many of us . . . [Full text of this article]

Frederick Chen, Atlantic fellow in public policy

Public Health Policy Unit, School of Public Policy, University College London, London WC1H 9QU (fchen@u.washington.edu)

Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care

Department of Primary Care and Social Medicine, Imperial College, London W6 8RP

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Rapid Responses:

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