April to September 2026
This report includes data relating to REC audits conducted and action plans completed in the period April to September 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 21 audits were completed and 17 action plans reviewed and verified as completed.
REC audits and accreditation status awarded
| Name of REC | Audit period | Accreditation status awarded |
| Wales REC 1 | Jan 2025 – Dec 2025 | Full accreditation |
| London – Stanmore | Jan 2025 – Dec 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| Wales REC 5 | Jan 2025 – Dec 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| London - Bromley | Feb 2025 – Jan 2026 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| North West – GM West | Feb 2025 – Jan 2026 | Full accreditation |
| East of England – Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire | Feb 2025 – Jan 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| London – Queen Square | Mar 2025 – Feb 2026 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| North West – GM East | Mar 2025 – Feb 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| HSC A | Mar 2025 – Feb 2026 | Full accreditation |
| South West – Cornwall & Plymouth | Apr 2025 – Mar 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| London – Camden & Kings Cross | Apr 2025 – Mar 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| South West – Central Bristol | Apr 2025 – Mar 2026 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| London – Brighton & Sussex | Apr 2025 – Mar 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| HSC B | May 2025 – Apr 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| North West – GM South | May 2025 – Apr 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| West of Scotland 1 | May 2025 – Apr 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
| West Midlands – Edgbaston | May 2025 – Apr 2026 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| Social Care REC | Jun 2025 – May 2026 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire | Jun 2025 – May 2026 | Full accreditation |
| North West – Preston | Jun 2025 – May 2026 | Full accreditation |
| East of England - Cambridge South | Jul 2025 – Jun 2026 | Provisional accreditation |
REC Audit Decisions April to September 2026
Figure 1 shows the breakdown of REC audit decisions made during the reporting period April to September 2026.
Out of the 21 RECs audited, 48% were given a provisional accreditation, 24% were given full accreditation and 28% 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 |
| London - South East* | 08-Apr-26 | 08-Apr-26 | 13-Apr-26 | 07-May-26 |
| London – Riverside* | 30-Apr-26 | 12-May-26 | 13-May-26 | n/a |
| South Central - Hampshire A* | 14-May-25 | 14-May-25 | 15-May-26 | 22-Jul-26 |
| London - Central | 10-Jun-26 | 10-Jun-26 | 10-Jun-26 | n/a |
| East Midlands - Leicester Central | 16-Jun-26 | 16-Jun-26 | 16-Jun-26 | n/a |
| East Midlands - Derby | 23-Jun-26 | 16-Jun-26 | 16-Jun-26 | n/a |
| London – Surrey Borders | 14-Jul-26 | 14-Jul-26 | 15-Jul-26 | n/a |
| West Midlands - Coventry and Warwickshire | 27-Apr-26 | 27-Apr-26 | 06-May-26 | n/a |
| London - Westminster | 05-Aug-26 | 26-Jun-26 | 02-Jul-26 | n/a |
| Wales REC 2* | 27-Aug-26 | 01-Sep-26 | 03-Sep-26 | n/a |
| Wales REC 4* | 03-Sep-26 | 14-Sep-26 | 15-Sep-26 | n/a |
| Wales REC 3 | 05-Sep-26 | 19-Aug-26 | 01-Sep-26 | n/a |
| North East - Tyne & Wear South | 12-Sep-26 | 11-Sep-26 | 15-Sep-26 | n/a |
| West Midlands - South Birmingham | 19-Sep-26 | 11-Sep-26 | 15-Sep-26 | n/a |
| North West – GM East | 28-Aug-26 | 28-Aug-26 | 02-Sep-26 | n/a |
| South West – Cornwall & Plymouth | 12-Sep-26 | 02-Sep-26 | 03-Sep-26 | n/a |
| London – Camden & Kings Cross | 16-Dec-26 | 02-Sep-26 | 03-Sep-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 (April to September 2026 and the previous two reporting periods (October 2025 to March 2026 and April to September 2025).
The graph shows the number of RECs completing an action plan which was signed off on time for the current reporting period, April to September 2026 (12 RECs), with previous reporting periods October 2025 to March 2026 (16 RECs) and April to September 2025 (4 RECs).
The number of action plans where the REC was given an extension to complete the actions for the current reporting period (3 RECs) has increased from the previous reporting period October 2025 to March 2026 (no RECs) and April to September 2025 when 2 RECs were given an extension.
The number of RECs given short term accreditation, after completion of the action plan, for the current reporting period (2 RECs) has decreased from the previous reporting period October 2025 to March 2026 (7 RECs), and mirrors the reporting period April to September 2025 (2 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 (April to September 2026) and the previous two reporting periods (October 2025 to March 2026 and April to September 2025).
The graph shows the number of RECs being issued an action plan with 1-3 actions for the current reporting period (16 RECs) has slightly decreased from the previous reporting periods October 2025 to March 2026 (17 RECs) and April to September 2025 (18 RECs).
No RECs were issued with an action plan with 4-6 issues for the current reporting period which has decreased from the previous reporting periods October 2025 to March 2026 (2 RECs) and April to September 2025 (1 REC).
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
Accreditation Trends relating to non-compliance of Membership
Figure 4 compares the number of unmet standards relating to membership for the current reporting period (April to September 2026 – 21 RECs) with those unmet standards for the previous reporting periods (October 2025 to March 2026 – 20 RECs and April to September 2025 – 24 RECs).
The graph shows trends of the four audit categories relating to membership standards. There is a decrease in issues relating to indemnity for the current reporting period (1 REC) from both the previous reporting periods October 2025 to March 2026 (3 RECs) and April to September 2025 (2 RECs).
As from April 2026 the audit standard relating to training has changed to reflect the expectation and requirements in the new member volunteer agreement. Members are required to complete mandatory induction and Equality and Diversity training, but only expected to undertake continuous training – so the completion of continuous training is no longer an audit standard. Actions relating to training shows a decrease in issues with 11 action plan issues for the current reporting period compared with 13 for the previous reporting period October 2025 to March 2026 and 16 for the reporting period April to September 2025.
As from April 2026, there is no longer a requirement for members to attend a set number of meetings (per annual reporting period); this has been replaced by an expectation in the volunteer agreement. Attendance is no longer an audit standard.
Issues relating to the constitution has decreased for the current reporting period with 2 issues raised, compared with 7 issues raised for the previous reporting period October 2025 to March 2026 and 4 issues raised for the reporting period April to September 2025. To note the standards relating to the constitution changed with the introduction of the new CT regulations in April 2026.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 4.
Accreditation Trends relating to non-compliance of Minutes, Correspondence and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Figure 5 compares the number of unmet standards relating to minutes, correspondence, and SOPs for the current reporting period (April to September 2026 – 21 RECs) with those unmet standards for the previous reporting periods (October 2025 to March 2026 – 20 RECs and April to September 2025 – 24 RECs).
The graph shows the number of unmet standards relating to management of minutes for the current reporting period has decreased with 6 issues raised, compared to 7 issues raised for the previous reporting period October 2025 to March 2026 and 11 issues raised for the reporting period April to September 2025.
There was a decrease in unmet standards relating to non-compliance to SOPs (for example inquorate meetings) with 6 issues raised for the current reporting period, compared to 7 issues for October 2025 to March 2026 and 11 issues for April to September 2025.
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 65 recommendations made which related to membership.
Recommendations related to low-level non-compliance regarding training (29%), appointment/re-appointment documentation (24%), attendance (20%) and constitution (including capacity of members) (8%). Other recommendations (20%) related to missing annual DOI forms and inaccurate/missing membership details on HARP.
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 89 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) (32%), the management of minutes (ratification/uploading) (21%), the quality of minutes (22%)* 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.