On Thursday 3 July, the government published the 10 Year Health Plan for England which outlined an ambitious plan to transform the NHS over the next decade.
Our Chief Executive, Matt Westmore, has shared his thoughts on the plan and what it means for the HRA and health and social care research in the UK.
Matt Westmore, Chief Executive“The 10 Year Health Plan will transform the NHS as we currently know it.
“We are delighted to see that research, science and technology have been recognised as key to this reinvention of the NHS.
“The reforms outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan will help achieve the government’s ambition to transform the NHS into a global research and innovation powerhouse – and we are ready to play our part.
“The government has set a target to reduce the time taken for clinical trials to set up in the UK to 150 days.
“We are working hard to make changes to standardise contracts, streamline the approvals process and remove duplication across the research system to make it easier and faster to do research that people can trust.
“The ongoing work as part of the National Contract Value Review is already making a big difference to speed up research.
“The upcoming changes to the clinical trials regulations will also help future proof the regulatory landscape in the UK, and ensure that research is easier to set up, but is carried out transparently and involves people from all backgrounds in every stage of research from design to delivery.
“The plan also sets out an ambition for the UK to become a world leader in patient involvement in research. This is something that we have championed through our Shared Commitment to Public Involvement, and we look forward to seeing this ambition become a reality.
“Next week we will launch our new strategy for 2025-28 which will demonstrate how the Health Research Authority’s work to make it easier to do research that people can trust will help the government achieve its goals over the next three years.
“This is a bold new chapter for the NHS and research has a key role to play in ensuring that health and social care in the UK is fit for the future and contributes to economic growth.”