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NHS services and research go hand in hand
Dr. Alexandrea Macpherson, Research & Training Manager, NHS Scotland explains more about the unique role of research management and administration in the NHS
P
eople often ask me what I do. I usually respond with my title: ‘I am a Research and Training Manager in
the NHS’. In professional circles the usual response is: 'Oh and what do you research?', but to anyone who is not familiar my response is usually met with a face that says: 'What does that mean?' Well it means a lot actually and I'll tell you why. When people think of academic or
medical research their fi rst thoughts are universities, but few think of NHS departments and hospitals that are coming up with ideas and carrying out projects on the ground. NHS services and research don’t always go hand in hand in people’s eyes. And my role was instigated to help change that view. One part of the Oxford Dictionary’s
defi nition of a manager is: ‘A person in charge of the activities, tactics, and training of a sports team’ – which is almost right with regards to my role – just replace sports team with NHS department! I help manage and monitor the
research projects at the largest sexual, emotional and reproductive health centre in Scotland that sees upwards of 62,000 people every year, so no-one can argue that we’re working on a small scale. Our waiting rooms see a large number
of diverse clientele in terms of age, race, sex and sexual orientation. Why is this important? Well, it gives a snapshot of the sexually active population, and by speaking to these individuals we can begin to piece together the reasons why they visit sexual health clinics – whether for STI testing, contraceptive needs or emotional aspects related to sexuality, as well as to understand more about other factors in their lives, and the impact that they may have on their health and wellbeing. We need to ask these questions, (and to use other methods to explore clinical and other interventions), to tailor our services to be the most eff ective and responsive. Speaking to clients and researching their needs allows us to bet er understand their issues and experiences, and to produce
“Most of all, I need to have a handle on every research project, big and small, conducted with, for and via my service ”
ARMA
Dr Alexandrea Macpherson is a Research & Training Manager for NHS Scotland. She is a member
of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) UK.
www.arma.ac.uk
the evidence to base decisions on. As well as engaging with our users, we
need our front-line staff who are noticing ‘extra presentations of x’ and ‘sudden use of y’ to put forward their curiosities that then go on to become the questions we need to research. Thus research in the NHS is not just interesting (and it IS very interesting), but can lead to service improvements and eventually bet er care for individuals. So where do I come in? My job is to
disseminate our research; to support ongoing and new projects; to seek out new projects; to help with funding and ethics bids…the list goes on. Most of all, I need to have a handle on every research project, big and small, that is conducted with, for and via my service. Here’s how I like to think about it: research projects are like helium balloons – all distinct and going in their own direction. These balloons are all linked to my service via strings, and it is my job to hold all these strings together, to make sure I have a handle of all projects and to make sure one doesn’t fl oat off as we didn’t have a tight enough grasp on it. Since I have been in post we have had
an increase in conference presentations both oral and poster, nationally and internationally; we have established a sexual health research network with surrounding universities to collectively, not competitively, apply for bids; and I have helped research curiosities morph into full blown bid applications. I do, myself, what universities have
whole departments to do! However, change is happening. At their most recent conference, NHS Research Scotland (NRS) recognised the importance of research managers in the NHS. I am just at the start of this journey. However, my role is already gaining momentum and I believe in a few years time the post of Research and Training Manager will be fully integrated in my organisation. So, for now, I will enjoy my uniqueness while I can! UB
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