CONDUCTING CLINICAL RESEARCH IN THE NEW NHS - THE MODEL OF CANCER

The United Kingdom Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research represent s the major organisations funding cancer research in the United Kingdo m. The deliberations of a working party convened by the committee to e valuate recently expressed concerns that the changes in the NHS threat en research, especially clinical trials to evaluate new treatments, ar e reported. A survey of contributors to trials coordinated by the comm ittee showed that half are now experiencing difficulties in continuing to participate in clinical trials. The two major problems identified were lack of time and of staff, especially for NHS staff in non-teachi ng hospitals. Recent changes in junior doctors' hours and proposed red uctions in the length of time for training will exacerbate this. It is possible to identify the direct and indirect excess costs of conducti ng research in the NHS, but currently the mechanism does not exist to designate funds specifically for this purpose. Consultation with the r egional directors of research and development confirmed that the servi ce increment for teaching and research is not the solution for this, P roposals are made to secure future clinical research in the NHS, inclu ding finance, indemnity, the licensing of new drugs, the greater use o f nurse counsellors, and the value of cancer registries.