Agenda item

7.1  The Chair stated that local research was a key part of the health system and research needed to be based on the cohorts which are as representative of the local communities as possible, if it is to have value.  He stated that NEL ICS had secured £100k to support the development of a research engagement network for NEL and he had asked the lead for this to update Members on it.

7.2  He welcomed to the meeting: Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown (VB) OBE (Research and Innovation Lead, North East London Health and Care Partnership)

7.3  Members gave consideration to a report ‘NEL Research and Engagement Network Funding’ which outlined the context and included a short outline of the project activity and a note on outcomes and VB took Members through it in detail.

7.4  The Chair asked whether the end product would be the research itself or the new Network and how seldom heard groups could better be reached. VB replied that it was definitely the Network and that would in turn help them to reach out to underserved communities. Already certain areas were very active in engaging with research. They would focus on Newham and Barking & Dagenham as data showed under representation there and reduced participation compared to others. 

7.5  Cllr Brewer asked about the extent of research focuing on Diabetes. VB explained that a lot of work was taking place on Diabetes and they had in fact chosen diabetes and obesity as test cases for this project in order to better understand the barriers to participation in research. A lot of the research on diabetes was driven by Secondary Care and they would like to change that and ensure that the research is driven instead by patients and service users, she added.

7.6  Cllr Masters asked for clarity on the findings and assumptions re LB Newham. VB explained that it was not that the VCS sector there wasn’t active enough,  it was that the right connections hadn’t been made between those undertaking the research and those recruiting participants. The key was to use the local VCS as an important asset, she added.

7.7  Cllr Khan asked how the research will be used and what success would look like. VB replied that it would be that, in future, research was designed by service users and that more people from our diverse communities participated in it so that in the end we can be more confident that the research findings achieved apply to the totality of our local population in north east London and not just the current numbers who participate.

7.8  The Chair thanked VB for her report and suggested that at an appropriate point in a year or so it might be useful to revisit this item and hear about how the project went and whether they were able to reach into parts of the community that couldn’t do previously and what processes and methods they had used to achieve this so that there might be learning that could be shared with all the health and care partners.

  ACTION:

Update on outcomes of the NEL Research and Engagement Network to be added to the work programme for Feb/March 2024.

  RESOLVED:

  That the report and discussion be noted.