Work Programme
Consultation with Welsh Government Policy, NHS and Social Care leaders is key to developing and answering the right research questions at the Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre. This helps to ensure our research can be used to directly improve health and social care policy and practice.
Rapid evidence synthesis work programme
| Study Title | How the evidence will be used | Stakeholder Group |
|---|---|---|
| How can Value-based Health Care and health economic methods better inform decision-making in Wales? | Inform value based health care cost-effectiveness analysis methods | Welsh Government Science, Research and Evidence Division |
| Identifying validated applicable patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for goal attainment or change in function to use by AHPs and multi-professional teams across Wales | Inform development of a data dashboard for AHPs and rehabilitation services across Wales | Allied Health Profession Framework Wales |
| Effectiveness of interventions to enhance equity in health outcomes for patients with learning disabilities receiving the Liaison Service support | Inform Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan | Learning Disability team |
| The effectiveness of interventions to support mental and emotional health and wellbeing in young people who are not in education, employment or training. | Inform Health board programme development | Hywel Dda UHB |
| What multi-agency strategies have been implemented to ensure continuity of care during transitions from children’s to adults’ social care services? | To shape the content and focus of roadshows delivered by Social Care Wales to local authorities, highlighting effective multi-agency strategies for supporting transitions | Social Care Wales |
| What evidence exists on interventions to improve inclusivity and accessibility of active travel infrastructure for disabled people, children and older adults and reduce health and socio-economic inequalities in these populations? | Inform the update and refinement of guidance under the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, ensuring it reflects current best evidence on accessibility and inclusion | Transport for Wales – Active Travel |
| What is the impact of community-based public health practitioners (e.g. Community Matrons, Older Persons Health Visitors) on health and well-being outcomes in older adults? | To inform policy development on introducing community-based public health for older adults within community health services in Wales | Welsh Government - Primary and Community Care |
| What approaches have been used to implement direct payments within health systems, and how do various factors influence the effectiveness of these approaches in supporting personalisation, governance, and equitable access to care? | To support the Welsh Government’s implementation of direct payments for Continuing NHS Healthcare | Welsh Government - Direct Payments and Disabled Policy Team |
| How can a population health management approach be effectively implemented to reduce health inequalities in healthcare delivery and outcomes? | To support projects within the Health Inequalities Programme, aligning with the Health Board's plan and priorities. | NHS Wales (Public Health Betsi Cadwaladr UHB) |
| How can employers best support the mental health of young employees (16-24 years) during the transition from education to work? | To support the development of a toolkit for employers | NHS Wales (Health and Work) |
| What is the evidence for offering lifestyle medicine clinics or coaches at the pre-treatment stage of cancer care? | To inform whether lifestyle medicine approaches should be incorporated into cancer care pathways in Hywel Dda UHB | NHS Wales (Public Health Hywel Dda UHB) |
| What are the barriers to access and sustained participation in healthcare education and career pathways for care-experienced young people, and what evidence exists that interventions improve these outcomes? | The evidence will inform HEIW’s strategic planning to widen access to healthcare education and careers for care-experienced young people in Wales | HEIW (Healthcare Education) |
| What is the evidence for the impact of autonomous nurse practitioners delivering primary care (e.g., general medical services) on patient outcomes? | To support the work of the all Wales Primary Care Lead nurse group who have developed ambitions for their future workforce, including the role of a nurse practitioner. | NHS Wales (Primary & Community Nursing) |
| Which workplace food environment interventions are effective in supporting healthy weight outcomes among hospital employees | To inform the design of workplace-based food environment interventions to support healthy weight among staff within the Health Board | Cwm Taff UHB |
Primary research work programme
| Study Title | How the evidence will be used | Stakeholder Group |
|---|---|---|
Population Data Science | ||
| Identifying predictive factors associated with the occurrence of bleeding events or thrombotic event. | Evidence base for providing risk and benefit information to patients via the “Co-Clarity” decision support tool being developed and evaluated in the Serenity programme, and due for implementation in routine care in health systems across Europe, including Wales. | Professor Simon Noble (Professor Palliative Medicine) |
| How does access to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) prescription differ for women across Wales? | The evidence will be used to develop strategies for narrowing inequalities in access and ensuring women in less deprived communities and marginalised groups are not disadvantaged in accessing HRT. | Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales |
| What is the impact of the Safe@Home regional integrated crisis service on reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving patient outcomes? | By demonstrating the effectiveness of Safe@Home, findings will inform future scaling and integration of similar models across Wales. | Safe@Home, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
| In house | ||
| Evaluation of Women’s Health Services in Wales - The views of endometriosis nurses and pelvic health & wellbeing coordinators on their roles: a service evaluation | Inform ongoing policy and service provision in this area | Quality and Nursing Directorate (policy) |
| What is the return on investment for the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales for the management of chronic health conditions? | This research will enable Ministers and policy makers to understand the whole system cost of NERS and the associated benefits. This evidence will facilitate decision-making around wider investment in NERS and demonstrate its value, leading to greater provision in Wales for those living with chronic health conditions that could be managed through exercise programmes, and reducing demands on hospital and health services. | Consultant lead for NERs in Wales |
| Approved Mental Health Professionals' (AMHPs) Lived Experience of the Role and Factors that Could Support Improved Recruitment, Retention, and Wellbeing | Understanding ways to encourage uptake of training, recruitment to the role, and retention are critical for the future stability of the workforce. Findings will inform recruitment and retention strategies and training courses for AMHPs. | Social Care Wales |
| Secondary care staff views of the Learning Disability Liaison Services in Wales: a service evaluation | The overarching aim of the Learning Disability Health Liaison services in each health board is to improve the quality and safety of delivery in secondary care ensuring an equitable and safe service. Findings will be used to inform service delivery planning. | Learning Disability Improvement Cymru |
This is the proposed Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre Work Programme June 2025 - June 2026. This may be amended should policy / practice evidence needs change (existing projects may be adapted or removed, and high priority questions may be added).