What is the role of local enhanced services in building clinical research facilities in primary care?

Abstract

The implementation of a revised government strategy for UK health research led to a reorientation of primary care research, largely focused on recruitment to, and involvement in, clinical trials. This reorientation prompted consideration of new approaches to developing clinical research facilities able to deliver this agenda. The provision of local enhanced services (LES) allow primary care organizations to provide additional services and thereby offer potential for involving primary care staff in clinical research. This paper describes the development and evaluation of one such LES scheme in the East of England, and highlights potential barriers and facilitators to progress.