Department of Health

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Health and social care research in the Department of Health

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007

The Department invests in research to support government objectives for public health, health services and social care, as well as contributing to the government science strategy.

The Department needs R&D to ensure that:

  • policy for health, health care and social care is based on reliable evidence of needs and of what works best to meet those needs;
  • improved interventions are developed to promote health, treat ill-health and provide social care;
  • information is available to those responsible for health and social care services on what works and what does not, and on proven ways of improving quality, access and efficiency.

To deliver these objectives the Department:

  • works with services, the public and other parts of government to identify needs & priorities for R&D on health & social care;
  • persuades other R&D funders to address needs falling within their remits. Provides support funding for this (non-commercial) research to be carried out in NHS providers
  • itself funds and manages R&D (not picked up by others) needed to deliver Departmental objectives
  • funds research capacity development (including in primary care)
  • supports synthesis of research and dissemination of research findings to users
  • utilises research in policy making
  • contributes to wider government science and technology strategy

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