Research Governance
The National Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care came into effect in April 2002.
Its purpose is to promote and ensure quality in clinical and non-clinical research carried out either by NHS staff or within the health and social care system.
Compliance with the Framework is mandatory.
All organisations funding or hosting health and social care research must have systems in place to make sure that their staff understand and follow the standards of good practice set out in the Framework.
What does this mean for the individual researcher?
Essentially, the first step is to write a good protocol along the lines of that described on the protocol page.
A well planned piece of research, which follows these guidelines, will have no problem with issues relating to research governance.
Look at the DoH website for more information http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/rd3/nhsrandd/researchgovernance.htm
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Study guide collated by: Sandra Hollinghurst, Vicky Wood (Bath RDSU) and Michael Harris 
Last updated: 01 October 2006