National Healthcare
Associated Infection Research Network
The national priorities for
healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) research were set out
in the Department of Health (DH) Chief Medical Officer's
report Winning Ways (DH, 2003). Within this document the
need was identified for a national network for HCAI
research. In early 2006, the responsibility for managing
this initiative was contracted to the Richard Wells Research
Centre at Thames Valley University London and the Department
of Health's National HCAI Research Network is now
established.
The Network is directed by Professor Robert Pratt and
supported by a group of senior research staff within the
Richard Wells Research Centre. The day to day management of
the Network is being undertaken by its Principal Research
Officer, Alison Tingle, who came into post in May 2006.
Professor David Edwards, the current manager of the DH
Antimicrobial Resistance Research Programme will join the
Network as their scientific advisor.
The key aims of the HCAI Research Network are to contribute
to the strategic development of the national research agenda
in this field and support and manage DH funded HCAI-related
research.
Major projects recently funded through the Department's
Policy Research Programme's call for research into the
cost-effectiveness of interventions for the control of HCAI
will be managed and supported by the Network from early
autumn. These include a diverse range of studies such as
those focusing on the role of managing the hospital
environment, environmental decontamination, MRSA carriage in
care home settings and modelling MRSA intervention policies.
They vary from 18 months to two years in duration and each
will report their interim findings and final results at
annual Network conferences.
In addition, the Network is currently developing plans to:
- Coordinate with other research funders to explore how best
to bring relevant research into the managed Network;
- Enhance research capacity and capability in this area (by
providing relevant interdisciplinary research training and
opportunities for methodological support and advice to HCAI
researchers);
- Provide support to research groups for research governance
and ethical approval processes.
An Advisory Board for the HCAI Network, chaired by Professor
Charles Easmon, Deputy Chairman of the Health Protection
Agency Board, is being established and its primary function
will be to advise on national priorities for HCAI research.
These are early days for the new Network which aims to act
as a forum for encouraging high quality HCAI research to
provide the best available evidence for practice and which
effectively responds to the challenge of reducing HCAI
throughout the National Health Service.
