A research and development strategy for Hillingdon Primary Care Trust (PCT) in North West London

Rationale: There were three notable milestones for health research in England during the 1990s. The NHS R&D programme was established and it prioritised research on themes such as the primary-secondary care interface and initiated regional R&D programmes. The Culyer Report led to the first comprehensive strategy for funding research within the NHS, while the Mant strategic review of research in primary care stimulated the setting up of primary care research networks. However, by the time the three waves of primary care trusts were introduced in 2000-02, 303 in all, opportunities for obtaining NHS funding for promoting R&D in primary care were much more restricted, especially from regional sources.