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
Identifying validated applicable patient reported outcome measures for goal attainment or change in function to use by AHPs and multi-professional teams across Wales	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	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
Multi-agency strategies that have been implemented to ensure continuity of care during transitions from children’s to adults’ social care services	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
Effective strategies that make active travel more inclusive, accessible, and equitable for disabled people, children and older adults	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
Impact, value, and potential role of community-based public health practitioners in improving outcomes for older adults with frailty and multimorbidity in Wales	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
Approaches used to implement direct payments within health systems and the factors that influence their success	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

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).