Research involving NHS and Covid

Research involving the NHS and Covid-19

Research involving the NHS is continuing. However, NHS resources continue to be under pressure and there are issues to consider around risk, safety, and ethics.

At the University level, the guidance for in-person contact with human participants requires that this type of research is carefully planned and considered. This is covered in more detail on the guidance for research involving humans web page. In summary, research involving in-person, face-to-face contact must satisfy three conditions:

• It must be permissible (so complies with applicable University, local and national restrictions and in the case of the NHS, any NHS board requirements, capacity limitations or restrictions).
• It must be safe (determined through the risk assessment processes for travel and fieldwork or use of research sites including NHS sites).
• It must be ethical (determined through the ethical review process, to ensure the enhanced ethical issues that are a result of the circumstances and increased safety risks are addressed).

Researchers are encouraged to use online and remote methods and may need to give justification for in-person research.

Masters and undergraduate students considering research involving the NHS or social care services should see the guidance from the Health Research Authority (HRA) on research for educational purposes. 

What this means in practice

If you are planning a new research project, or to resume one that has been paused, your first step should always be to get in contact with the Sponsor by emailing researchgovernance@st-andrews.ac.uk.