Research governance is important

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7537.365-a

BMJ 2006;332:365 (11 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7537.365-a

Letter

Research governance is important

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

EDITOR—I have experience of obtaining research governanceapproval from both sides, as a primary care trust research managementand governance manager and as an active researcher who has recentlygained approval for a project across the local strategic healthauthority.^{1 2}

Firstly, I see no reason why trusts should be asking fellowNHS employees for honorary contracts.² All NHS organisationsare signed up to research governance, and that should be sufficientproof of their status. This is not a good use of researchers'or research governance staff's time.

Secondly, if a researcher has an honorary contract with oneNHS organisation the facility exists to issue a letter of authorisationto accept this elsewhere, and unless there are compelling reasonsnot to do this—namely, no contact with children or vulnerableadults in other sites—then this is surely the way forward.¹

Thirdly, procedures are inconsistent across trusts, partly becauseof the . . . [Full text of this article]

Mick E Bond, research manager

North Derbyshire Public Health Network, Chesterfield S41 7PF mick.bond@chesterfieldpct.nhs.uk