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Across Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (ICS) we are committed to improving the health, care and wellbeing for our people and communities through creating a culture of innovation, learning and improvement, and through more impactful research, evaluation and audit.

This webpage provides support and resources for health and care staff, people and communities, who are interested in taking part in or leading on a piece of research, evaluation or audit. It will also be a place where we share examples of work we are doing across the county.

What is research?

Research is a process of investigating, analysing, and interpreting information to answer a specific question, solve problems, or discover new knowledge. It involves gathering data, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions based on evidence.

Research in health and care wants to find answers to questions about the best support and treatment options available. It then uses these findings to make improvements or changes to the care we provide. This is so we can:

  • diagnose diseases earlier or more accurately
  • provide life-changing treatments
  • prevent people from developing conditions
  • improve health and care for our generations to come
  • ensure people and communities have a better quality of life

What is evaluation?

Evaluation is a formal review of the design, delivery or outcomes of a procedure, project, or policy. It involves gathering and analysing information to better understand the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, and impact of the initiative being evaluated. Evaluation helps us to understand what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve future interventions. It plays a key role in decision-making, accountability, and learning in health and care.

To find out more, please visit the NHS Evalutation Toolkit.

What is audit?

Audit is an examination and verification of health and care records, processes, or systems to ensure accuracy, compliance, and transparency. It is sometimes undertaken by independent auditors who review a health or care organisation’s processes for complying with regulations and policies. Audits help identify errors, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement within an organisation. They play a vital role in promoting accountability, integrity, and trust in reporting.

The video below has been produced by one of our research active GP practices – Phoenix Health Group. It provides the learning on their research journey and demonstrates the role all staff members have in taking part in research studies.

Those who work on research, evaluation and audit across Gloucestershire help us to make sure we use the most up to date research and evidence to provide the best possible care and support to our people and communities and help inform our future decisions.

We work closely with colleagues at the:

  • University of Gloucestershire
  • Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
  • Hospices
  • National Institute of Health and Care Research
  • Health Improvement Network
  • Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations
  • People and communities

The documents and resources below will explain more about research, evaluation and audit in Gloucestershire:

You can find out more about who to contact to about the research work they do in health and care or source training opportunities:

Tel: 01452 943323
Email: glicb.glosresearch@nhs.net

The Research Hub is an opportunity for researchers to come and speak to you about their research and then have a conversation. These are relaxed and informal sessions. Health and care professionals, people and communities most welcome.

The Research Hub meetings are currently online and take place via Zoom. They vary between a 12pm or 5pm weekday start and last approximately 40 minutes, including an opportunity to ask any questions.

Recording of previous meetings

Thursday 19th June 2025

Mr Oliver Old and Dr Katherine Kendall presented on the “Barrett’s Oesophagus Surveillance Study (BOSS) Trial” at GHFT

The BOSS trial was funded by the National Institute of Health Research, through the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme, with a grant award of £1.7M, led by Professor Hugh Barr and Mr Oliver Old. The aim of the study was to investigate whether regular endoscopic surveillance is better than endoscopy at need for detecting early signs of oesophageal cancer in patients diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus. 3,453 patients were recruited from 109 centres across the UK with follow up continuing for at least 10 years.

These results are likely to influence societal guidelines regarding surveillance for non-dysplastic Barrett’s oesophagus, and inform decision making for individual patients and clinicians. A copy of the published research study can be found here.

Mr Old MD FRCS is a Consultant Upper GI Surgeon at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He completed his surgical training in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, including specialist Fellowships at internationally renowned centres in Melbourne and Auckland, covering all aspects of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, and Bariatric (weight loss) surgery. He is clinical lead for Bariatric Surgery, and his research interests include Barrett’s oesophagus and early oesophageal cancer.

Dr Catherine Kendall, a Consultant Clinical Scientist at GHNHSFT, is the Head of Diagnostic Radiology Physics, BOSS Trial Manager, Scientific lead of the Biophotonics Research Unit & Honorary Research Fellow University of Exeter. Having joined GRH as a trainee medical physicist, she completed her PhD with Cranfield University investigating the use of Raman Spectroscopy for the early detection and classification of malignancy in oesophageal tissue. A Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship supported ongoing research which has led onto NIHR i4i research grants for the RAPIDE & DOLPHIN trials, in collaboration with the Universities of Bristol and Exeter. Following MHRA approval of the novel devices these studies have evaluated the implementation of Raman spectral probes for the diagnosis of dysplastic changes in patients with Barrett’s oesophagus at endoscopy and for head & neck cancer. She has more than 100 peer reviewed publications. Catherine has managed the BOSS trail since 2016.

Thursday 6th March 2025

Elaine Willmore presented on “A tortoise not a hare: My clinical academic journey”

Elaine is a physiotherapist at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust with a background in Advanced Practice particularly centred around the management of people with complex shoulder problems. Elaine has worked in elite sport with experience at premiership football, rugby and first- class cricket. She completed her MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy in 2011 and was awarded the prestigious British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS) AHP Fellowship in 2017. Elaine is nearing the end of her full-time PhD funded by ARC West on social prescribing.

Thursday 10th April 2025

Natalia Bartolome-Diez presented on “Crafting cancer survivorship. Ethnic minorities perspective of life in remission”

Natalia is currently Insights Manager for NHS Gloucestershire ICB, working to build relationships with underserved communities across the county and supporting their health and wellbeing. Natalia previously worked at Cardiomyopathy UK and Cancer Research UK, embedding Patient and Public Involvement in national work programmes and supporting researchers with their involvement plans to ensure patient views were heard and considered. She completed her undergraduate in Social Anthropology in 2018 and has just commenced her part-time PhD with University of Gloucestershire, funded by Gloucestershire Integrated Care System and The University of Gloucestershire.

Thursday 15th May 2025

Sally-Anne Wherry presented on ‘The Intergenerational Impact of the Contaminated Blood Scandal’

This study explored the impact on the families of a condition where they must continue to engage with the services connected to their family traumas and losses.  It illustrates the need for trauma informed care.  Sally-Anne is a member of the group, coming from a family with Haemophilia who are core participants in the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Sally-Anne Wherry is a senior lecturer in Gloucestershire, where she teaches postgraduate Health and Social Care. A specialist Parkinson and Movement Disorder nurse, she now teaches nurses in topics such as ethics and research. She is currently working on a PhD around inter-generational trauma in the families of Haemophiliacs affected by the infected blood scandal.

 

Writing for Publication Webinar

This ‘Writing for Publication’ webinar was hosted on 7th May 2025 by Dr Liz Berragan,  Associate Professor Health and Social Care Education, University of Gloucestershire. In this webinar we covered:

  • Choosing a journal for your subject and audience
  • Submission guidelines
  • Authorship
  • Structuring your manuscript
  • Referencing
  • Submission of your article
  • The peer review process

UoG-Writing for publication

 

 

Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) Stage 1: 2023/24

Lead Authors: Dr Joy Bevan & Dr Katherine Broomfield, University of Gloucestershire.

Co-authors: Fathima Nafla Mohamed Nazreen, Akbal (Bill) Singh, Habiba Hansdot, Anamika Dam, Ashieyah Kriel, Jubaida Rashid, Prob Singh, Vicky Asirvatham, Omonigho Gbejewoh, Rasiegha Ketharalingham, Esra Tuncel, Farida Mehmood, Funke Dehinbo, Viva O’Flynn.

University of Gloucestershire – Bame Research (youtube.com)