The RCP has today welcomed the Care Quality Commission’s new strategy, which includes a focus on encouraging clinical research and tackling health inequalities.
Commenting on the publication, RCP academic vice president Professor Cheng-Hock Toh said:
“We are delighted that the CQC has listened to the RCP and other organisations and included clinical research prominently within its new strategy.
“As the strategy rightly highlights, clinical research is proven to improve patient outcomes and experience. It is right that the CQC commits to encouraging services, including NHS trusts, to create a culture where research is promoted and supported.
“Creating a strong research culture in the NHS depends on clinicians up and down the country taking the time to recruit patients, run trials and analyse the results. This increased during the pandemic, but it shouldn’t be a short term increase. It is vital that more clinicians have more time to become involved in research.
“We are also pleased to see that tackling health inequalities is a key part of CQC’s new strategy. It is absolutely imperative in improving the nation’s health. This will ultimately need a cross-government approach, which we are calling for with the Inequalities in Health Alliance”.
