Share this

How does NHS Research Scotland work within the UK?

NHS Research Scotland (NRS) works with UK research support and healthcare providers to ensure that processes and support infrastructure are aligned with other UK nations wherever possible. 

NRS is committed to working with other UK nations as part of an integrated research system. This allows Scottish-led research to be delivered across the UK and provides support for studies from other parts of the country to recruit in Scotland.  

Scotland’s NHS is one of the four health systems in UK, and Scotland also has a legal system with differences to that operating in England and Wales. 

This means that: 

  • Studies with Scottish sites can request support to deliver clinical research in a similar way to sites in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
  • Scotland works within the same ethical and R&D review and approval systems, and to the same research guidance frameworks as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Health Research Authority (HRA) and other UK regulators
  • Systems for approval, feasibility, and site identification operate in Scotland processes in much the same way as other parts of the UK
  • Our internal processes can be a little different, since NHS Scotland is a separate healthcare provider, and Scotland has a separate legal system and a devolved parliament
  • In most cases NRS support will be delivered as part of normal processes, and sponsors should be informed directly if there is a specific requirement

 

Working in Partnership with Other Parts of the UK

Scotland is a full participant in both the UK Clinical Research Delivery cross-sector programme (UKCRD), and the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG).

As part of the VPAG investment in Scotland, Four Clinical Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) have been set up in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with further activity planned for the future.

 

UK Grant Funding

Scottish researchers can apply to the majority of NIHR schemes, thanks to the Scottish Government's Chief Scientist Office (CSO) contributions to these programmes.

Researchers in Scotland are also automatically eligible to apply for the NIHR Global Health Research Programme.

Applicants from Scotland from applicable organisations are also eligible to apply for all UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding streams.

 

Research Support Funding

The UK-wide Attributing the Costs of Health Research (ACoRD) agreement governs how NHS support and treatment costs are handled in Scotland.  

This covers NHS Service Support Costs (SSCs) and Excess Treatment Costs (ETCs) 

In Scotland, the Scottish Government's Chief Scientist Office administer budgets to assist NHS Boards with SSCs and ETCs on non-commercial research projects.  

Scottish sites will accept the Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool (SoECAT) form and can provide advice and support with drafting a SoECAT for Scottish researchers. NRS works with NIHR to enter SoECATs into the NIHR funding model for sites in England.  

For contacts, please get in touch with the local NHS Health Board R&D office or contact enquiries@nrs.org.uk.

 

Study Review and Approvals

IRAS

Scottish processes are fully integrated into the IRAS system, and applications for Scottish researchers, or to include Scottish sites, are handled as for any other UK site.  

The NRS Permissions Coordinating Centre (PCC) routes applications within Scotland. For a multisite study with Scottish sites, NRS PCC assists Sponsors by sharing amendments with the R&D teams at participating organisations.

Pharmacy and Radiology technical assurances can be generated for Scottish led sites and are accepted by Scottish sites when provided from other parts of the UK. 

Reviews from HRA/HCRW and Northern Ireland will be accepted in Scotland, and studies led from Scotland will initiate the multisite review process in the same way as any other UK site.

Commercial studies

Scotland is a fully engaged partner in the UK-wide National Contract Value Review (NCVR) costing process. 

Studies led from Scotland will cost studies using the standard tariffs within the interactive Costing Tool (iCT) as per the NCVR process. Any Scottish sites taking part in studies led from other parts of the UK have committed to accepting costings for studies where iCT rates are used. 

Scottish representatives take part in UK discussions to add or amend the standard iCT rates.

Standard UK contracts

NRS encourages use of standard UK template contracts across Scotland's Health Boards.

NRS has a direct role in reviewing and agreeing new versions, working with other UK partners.

Human tissue

The only part of the Human Tissue Act 2004 which applies in Scotland relates to the use of DNA analysis. However, NHS Biorepositories are quality assured and monitored by an expert panel on behalf of the Scottish government.

Access to health data

In England, the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) is an independent body which provides advice on the use of confidential patient information; however, this does not cover Scotland.  

The NHS Scotland Public Benefit and Privacy Panel for Health and Social Care (HSC-PBPP) performs a similar role in Scotland.

Local NHS R&D offices or Safe Havens can provide more detailed advice and facilitate appropriately managed access. In addition, Research Data Scotland (RDS) facilitates and contributes to research, and co-ordinates the Scottish Safe Havens Group to help standardise and improve systems, supporting access to data.

 

NHS Infrastructure Support

Scottish Health Boards receive core infrastructure funding from CSO, which is used to provide dedicated research staff who can support and deliver studies.

This funding is used to employ local research nurses, pharmacists and other associated support staff who can deliver research projects and can be considered equivalent to some of the types of support provided by NIHR in England.

Access to this is through local R&D offices, who oversee the allocation and performance of specialist research support.

NRS also provides access to expert disease specific networks. The NRS Networks and Speciality Groups can provide advice and guidance with study development, design, and site selection, and may also be able to assist with additional resource.