The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7354 p751
18 June 2005

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Improvements needed in ethical approval for NHS research

Greater consistency of decision making is needed among NHS research ethics committees (RECs) and there should be fewer of them, according to a Department of Health report (PDF 260K) published last week.

A DoH adhoc advisory group says that there is a pressing need for a common national research ethics approval system. This includes better local research and development procedures and making multiple use of information that has been supplied once, in order to reduce bureaucracy and speed up ethical approval.

The group says that there should be just one REC for each strategic health authority, with a limited number of exceptions, and that they should work more intensively.

Inconsistencies in approach to ethics approval need to be addressed through improved training of REC members and sharing of best practice, the group adds.

It also believes that RECs have been making decisions on the quality of research proposals, rather than restricting themselves to ethical considerations, and also involving themselves in non-research activities. This should stop.

The group says that the remit of RECs should not include assessing surveys or non-research activities that pose no material ethical issues for human participants; nor should they reach decisions based on scientific review. If they have any reservations on the quality of the science proposed, they should seek guidance from the Central Office for NHS Research Ethics Committees at the National Patient Safety Agency.

The DoH has now referred the report to the NPSA so that it can consider how best to implement the recommendations.

Harry Cayton, NHS director for patients and the public and a member of the advisory group, said: “RECs play a vital role in protecting the safety and well-being of patients. They ensure research has been scrutinised from all ethical angles and that patients are given all the information they need to make an informed decision about their participation in research.

“Much has already been done to modernise the ethics committee system, but today’s recommendations mean good quality research will be approved more quickly and patients’ interests will be looked after more consistently.”