October 2025 to March 2026
This report includes data relating to REC audits conducted and action plans completed in the period October 2025 to March 2026.
The report is reviewed by the UK wide Delivery and Support teams in order to review trends and to take forward any actions in order to improve the service provided by the Research Ethics Service (RES).
During the current reporting period 20 audits were completed and 23 action plans reviewed and verified as completed.
REC audits and accreditation status awarded
| Name of REC | Audit period | Accreditation status awarded |
| London - South East | Aug 2024 – Jul 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East | Aug 2024 – Jul 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| London - Riverside | Aug 2024 – Jul 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| East Midlands - Leicester South | Sep 2024 – Aug 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| South Central - Hampshire A | Sep 2024 – Aug 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| South Central - Oxford C | Sep 2024 – Aug 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| North West – GM Central | Sep 2024 – Aug 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| London - Central | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| East Midlands - Leicester Central | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| East Midlands - Derby | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| London – Surrey Borders | Nov 2024 – Oct 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 | Nov 2024 – Oct 2026 | Full accreditation |
| London – Chelsea | Nov 2024 – Oct 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| West Midlands - Coventry and Warwickshire | Nov 2024 – Oct 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| London - Westminster | Dec 2024 – Nov 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| Wales REC 2 | Dec 2024 – Nov 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| Wales REC 4 | Dec 2024 – Nov 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| Wales REC 3 | Dec 2024 – Nov 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| North East - Tyne & Wear South | Jan 2025 – Dec 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| West Midlands - South Birmingham | Jan 2025 – Dec 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
REC Audit Decisions October 2025 to March 2026
Figure 1 shows the breakdown of REC audit decisions made during the reporting period October 2025 to March 2026.
Figure 1 shows the breakdown of REC audit decisions made during the reporting period October 2025 to March 2026. Out of the 20 RECs audited, 65% were given a provisional accreditation, 5% were given full accreditation and 30% were given accreditation with conditions.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 1.
RECs achieving Full Accreditation after completion of an action plan
| Name of REC | Latest date action plan should be completed | Date completed action plan received | Date full accreditation received | Date full accreditation confirmed after Short Term Accreditation |
| East of England - Cambridge Central | 08-Oct-25 | 08-Oct-25 | 09-Oct-25 | n/a |
| East Midlands – Nottingham 1 | 23-Oct-25 | 21-Oct-25 | 23-Oct-25 | n/a |
| London – West London & GTAC | 08-Nov-25 | 07-Nov-25 | 11-Nov-25 | n/a |
| London – Hampstead* | 16-Nov-25 | 16-Nov-25 | 20-Nov-25 | 13-Apr-26 |
| South Central – Oxford A* | 27-Nov-25 | 27-Nov-25 | 01-Dec-25 | Due by 30-Jun-26 |
| London – City & East* | 29-Nov-25 | 28-Nov-25 | 02-Dec-25 | Due by 30-Apr-26 |
| South Central - Oxford B | 10-Dec-25 | 10-Dec-25 | 11-Dec-25 | n/a |
| East Midlands - Nottingham 2 | 19-Dec-25 | 16-Dec-25 | 17-Dec-25 | n/a |
| North West – Liverpool Central | 07-Jan-26 | 07-Jan-26 | 07-Jan-26 | n/a |
| London – Fulham* | 25-Jan-26 | 25-Jan-26 | 05-Feb-26 | Due by 04-Aug-26 |
| London – Bloomsbury* | 07-Feb-26 | 04-Nov-25 | 12-Nov-25 | 20-Nov-25 |
| South Central - Berkshire | 08-Feb-26 | 28-Jan-26 | 09-Feb-26 | n/a |
| North East – York* | 21-Feb-26 | 20-Feb-26 | 24-Feb-26 | Due by 23-May-26 |
| Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West | 21-Feb-26 | 20-Feb-26 | 24-Feb-26 | n/a |
| London - Brent | 01-Mar-26 | 27-Feb-26 | 04-Mar-26 | n/a |
| London – London Bridge | 10-Mar-26 | 10-Mar-26 | 12-Mar-26 | n/a |
| North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 | 17-Mar-26 | 11-Mar-26 | 11-Mar-26 | n/a |
| Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield | 23-Dec-25 | 22-Dec-25 | 05-Jan-26 | n/a |
| Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East | 27-Nov-25 | 27-Nov-25 | 01-Dec-25 | n/a |
| East Midlands - Leicester South* | 06-Feb-26 | 10-Feb-26 | 10-Feb-26 | Due by 10-May-26 |
| South Central - Oxford C | 24-Feb-26 | 24-Feb-26 | 25-Feb-26 | 24-Mar-26 |
| North West – GM Central | 01-Mar-26 | 02-Mar-26 | 04-Mar-26 | n/a |
| London – Chelsea | 22-Feb-26 | 19-Feb-26 | 23-Feb-26 | n/a |
* REC given either an extension to complete the action plan or Short Term Accreditation.
Action Plan Decisions
Figure 2 shows the action plan decisions during the current reporting period (October 2025 to March 2026) and the previous two reporting periods (April to September 2025 and October 2024 to March 2025).
The graph shows the number of RECs completing an action plan which was signed off on time for the current reporting period, October 2025 to March 2026 (16 RECs), with previous reporting periods April to September 2025 (4 RECs) and October 2024 to March 2025 (6 RECs).
The number of action plans where the REC was given an extension to complete the actions for the current reporting period (no RECs) has decreased from the previous two reporting periods April to September 2025 and October 2024 to March 2025 which both had 2 RECs given an extension.
The number of RECs given short term accreditation, after completion of the action plan, for the current reporting period (7 RECs) has increased from the previously reporting period April to September 2025 (2 RECs) and October 2024 to March 2025 (6 RECs).
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 2.
Number of issues, raised in action plans, for each audited REC during the current and previous reporting periods
Figure 3 shows the number of action plan issues raised for each audited REC during the current reporting period (October 2025 to March 2026) and the previous two reporting periods (April to September 2025 and October 2024 to March 2025).
The graph shows the number of RECs being issued an action plan with 1-3 actions for the current reporting period (17 RECs) has slightly decreased from the previous reporting period April to September 2024 (18 RECs) and increased from the reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 (7 RECs).
2 RECs were issued with an action plan with 4-6 issues for the current reporting period which has increased from the previous reporting periods April to September 2025 (1 REC) and October 2024 to March 2025 (0 RECs).
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for figure 3.
Breakdown of unmet accreditation audit standards for the current and previous reporting period
Figure 4 compares the number of unmet standards relating to membership for the current reporting period (October 2025 to March 2026 – 20 RECs) with those unmet standards for the previous reporting periods (April to September 2025 – 24 RECs and October 2024 to March 2025 – 16 RECs).
The graph shows trends of the five audit categories relating to membership standards. There is an increase in issues relating to indemnity for the current reporting period (3 RECs) from the previous reporting period April to September 2025 (2 RECs) and a decrease from reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 (0 RECs).
Actions relating to training shows a decrease in issues with 13 action plan issues for the current reporting period compared with 16 for the previous reporting period April to September 2025 and an increase for the reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 with 7.
Non-compliance relating to attendance for the current reporting period (1 issue) mirrors both the previous reporting periods April to September 2025 and October 2024 to March 2025.
Issues relating to the constitution has increased for the current reporting period with 7 issues raised, compared with 4 issues raised for the previous reporting period April to September 2025 and a decrease from the reporting period for October 2024 to March 2025 with 1 issue raised.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 4.
Figure 5 compares the number of unmet standards relating to minutes, correspondence, and SOPs for the current reporting period (October 2025 to March 2026 – 20 RECs) with those unmet standards for the previous reporting periods (April to September 2025 – 24 RECs and October 2024 to March 2025 – 16 RECs).
The graph shows the number of unmet standards relating to management of minutes for the current reporting period has decreased with 7 issues raised, compared to 11 issues raised for the previous reporting period April to September 2025 and an increase from the reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 with 1 issue raised.
There was a decrease in unmet standards relating to non-compliance to SOPs (for example inquorate meetings) with 7 issues raised for the current reporting period, compared to 11 issues for April to September 2025 and an increase for reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 with no issues.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 5.
Analysis of recommendations detailed in audit reports
Recommendations are issues which are deemed to be low enough risk not to warrant an action plan requiring review and sign off by the HRA QA department. Compliance against recommendations are actioned by the appropriate Approvals team (Support/Operational Delivery).
Recommendations relating to Membership
Figure 6 shows the breakdown of the 43 recommendations made which related to membership.
Recommendations related to low-level non-compliance regarding training (33%), appointment/re-appointment documentation (19%), attendance (21%) and constitution (including capacity of members) (9%). Other recommendations (19%) related to missing annual DOI forms, inaccurate/missing membership details on HARP and breaks in service.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 6.
Recommendations relating to Minutes, Correspondence and SOPs
Figure 7 shows the breakdown of the 87 recommendations made relating to the management of minutes, correspondence and SOPs.
Issues included low-level non-compliance against SOPs (management of HARP, use of favourable opinion with conditions, unclear audit trails of review, referees and other issues) (40%), the management of minutes (ratification/uploading) (20%)*, the quality of minutes (16%)** and the quality of correspondence (24%)**.
* quality of minutes and correspondence against best practice examples and guidance.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 7.
Report completion times
All the HRA QA procedure timelines were met during the reporting period.