Assessing payback from NHS reactive research programmes

Aims to assess retrospectively the payback from NHS reactive research programmes in the Northern and Yorkshire region. A questionnaire was sent to all recipients of regional reactive research programme funding (biomedical, health services research (HSR), and primary and community care programmes) between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1996. The sample available for analysis involved 174 respondents covering 119 projects, with a total financial value of £2.2 million. The main outcome measures used were peer‐reviewed publications, changes in individual practice, changes in NHS service delivery and organisation, and impact on the careers of researchers. Overall, 119 projects produced 230 peer‐reviewed publications: this was achieved at an average cost of £10,673, £6,386 and £22,310 per publication for the biomedical, HSR, and primary and community care programmes respectively. From the qualitative data analysis, important changes in individual practice and NHS service delivery were identified by respondents. The researchers in our sample appeared to have attracted over £6 million in R&D funding related to the initial regional grant. Although based on self‐report, there is evidence to suggest that the return on investment from NHS R&D can be substantial, taking a broad view of benefits to the NHS and to researchers. The findings also confirm the need for more effective dissemination and implementation of research findings.