SCOTTISH clinicians have said they are not being given enough time to carry out clinical research.

Extra time to do so, they say, could benefit patients and help deliver the Scottish Government’s vision for future health and social care.

In a joint statement yesterday, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland (AMRCFS) said health boards which focused on clinical research often produced improved outcomes for patients, highlighting the need for a sharper focus on research across the NHS in Scotland.

A greater emphasis on research – particularly on how to improve patient outcomes and help people live longer, healthier lives at home – could also help attain the Scottish Government’s 2020 vision for health and social care.

Both the college and the academy said it was important that patients were included as full collaborative partners in research and were involved in the design, conduct and reporting of studies.

They also need to be kept fully informed and able to consent to the use of their personal data to facilitate research and kept informed about rights to access, change or remove personal data. Patients should also have experiential input to research studies and be represented on grant funding committees.

The organisations thought it vital that everyone working in the NHS in Scotland was aware of the importance of clinical research, and had the opportunity to support it.

This could be by identifying opportunities for new research, recruiting patients for it, or leading trials and quality improvement.

However, they also warned that healthcare professionals currently lacked protected time to undertake patient-facing clinical research and this had to be addressed urgently.

Professor Derek Bell, president of the RCPE and current chair of the AMRCFS, said: “Clinical research is essential to delivering innovation in patient care, in maintaining Scotland’s status as a globally recognised centre for health science, and in supporting Scotland’s knowledge economy.

“Many doctors, and other healthcare professionals, regard research as a very important part of their job and a vital part of clinical care.

“Contracts which limit clinicians’ time do not promote innovation and research. Currently, there is a lack of protected time for research, and this must be urgently addressed. This will be vital if the Scottish Government’s 2020 vision for health and social care is to be realised.

“Patients also have a critical role in supporting research and their involvement must be given prominence by research funders, investigators and government.”

He added: “Health professionals should be proactive – where time permits – in seeking opportunities for their patients to be involved in research, seek opportunities to equip themselves with research skills, support their colleagues and their multidisciplinary teams to be research active, and identify opportunities for improvement in care through implementation of research findings in their daily activity.

“In doing so, outcomes for patients could be improved and Scotland’s research base can continue to grow.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We recognise research led by clinicians in the NHS is important if we are to support improved outcomes for patients which is why we are investing over £12.7 million this year to support the activities of NHS employees in carrying out research.

“In addition, our fellowship scheme supports NHS-funded clinical staff to develop research within their post.”