Written question WQ88916

The Welsh Government recognises the importance of including a broad range of participants in health and social care research, including clinical trials so that the results can be generalisable to a broad population. As much of the regulatory, ethics and governance framework for health and social research operates at a UK level, working collaboratively with our UK counterparts is key to increasing the diversity of people taking part in research studies.

Officials from Health and Social Services Research and Development Division are working with colleagues at Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Health Research Authority (HRA), along with colleagues in the other Devolved Governments, to develop guidance outlining expectations in relation to inclusivity and diversity in clinical trials. The work programme also includes reviewing the current ethics and approvals processes to ensure that participant diversity is appropriately considered.

The Health and Care Research Wales Plan 2022-25 further outlines a number of activities, aligned with the UK Clinical Research Vision, to embed clinical research at the heart of patient care across the NHS, making participation in research as easy as possible and ensuring health and care staff feel empowered to support research. Aligned to this, Health and Care Research Wales has recently published a NHS R&D Framework, which outlines what excellence looks like in the NHS where research is embraced, integrated into services and is a core part of an organisation’s culture.

The Welsh Government, also via Health and Care Research Wales, provides approximately £19.6m funding per year to support and facilitate the delivery of research studies across health and care settings in Wales. This funding enables the NHS to have the necessary infrastructure in place, including the costs of having research healthcare professional staff in place, to deliver clinical research effectively. It also includes resources for the Health and Care Research Wales Delivery Hub to provide national level support to facilitate the efficient set up of clinical trials so that the opportunity for participants to take part in these studies is available as quickly as possible.

In Autumn 2023, Health and Care Research Wales, as part of the UK Wide Be Part of Research service, will launch an initiative that enables individuals to sign up and indicate their interest in participating in research. Through joining this register, it will provide enhanced opportunities for people to be matched to suitable research studies.