Work Programme | Health Care Research Wales

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

Evidence need	Research question	How the evidence will be used	Stakeholder Group
Value Based Health Care and Cost-effectiveness Analysis	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 Evidence Advice team
The cost effectiveness of step up at-home reablement services to reduce hospital admission and long term care needs	What is the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of at-home time-limited reablement services for improving an individual’s independence and health outcomes and reducing the need for long term care?	Inform policy and local authority social care funding and resource decisions	Policy team for domiciliary care and unpaid carers
The validity and effectiveness of risk prediction tools to identify patients suitable for surgery in low risk regional surgical hubs	What is the validity and effectiveness of risk prediction tools to identify patients suitable for surgery in low-risk regional surgical hubs?	Inform guidance for regional surgical hubs	Planned care Wales
The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of integrated health and social care service models e.g. community acute care services	What is the effectiveness of integrated care in reducing waiting times/lists for frail and elderly populations in OECD countries? What are frail and elderly people’s experiences of integrated care interventions and their impact on waiting times in OECD countries?	Inform unscheduled service design across Wales	Bevan commission and NHS unscheduled care team
Identifying validated applicable patient reported outcome measures for goal attainment or change in function to use by AHPs and multi-professional teams across Wales	Pending	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	1. What is the effectiveness of Learning Disability Liaison services in improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities in acute care? 2. What are the barriers to and facilitators of implementing Learning Disability Liaison services in acute care?	Inform Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan	Learning Disability team
Effectiveness of interventions in children and young people to maintain/enhance mental and emotional health & wellbeing, increase resilience and reduce the need for mental health services	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

Primary research work programme

Evidence need	Research question	How the evidence will be used	Stakeholder Group
Population Data Science
Persistent pain - health care services in Wales	How many people experience persistent pain in Wales? A retrospective analysis of their characteristics, healthcare utilisation, and management using population-scale linked data.	Inform national strategy and service provision	Chronic Pain Leads (NHS)
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)

This is the proposed Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre Work Programme January 20024 – March 2025. This may be amended should policy / practice evidence needs change (existing projects may be adapted or removed, and high priority questions may be added).