R&D team receive accreditation
LNWH’s Research and Development Department (R&D), which oversees clinical trials and research, is the first hospital trust in the UK to achieve clinical research site Workforce Quality Accreditation (WQA).
This is a quality mark for delivering excellence developed with industry experts.
The WQA Foundation and Bronze Level award will now be used as a benchmark for other NHS R&D Departments for clinical research and was described as ‘above and beyond expectation’ by the International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research (IAOCR).
Individuals have previously been awarded internationally qualified clinical research professional status but this is the first time organisational level accreditation has been awarded to an NHS Organisation.
Jacqueline Johnson North, Chief Executive of IAOCR, said: “I can confidently say that what we have seen evidenced here is above and beyond expectations. It was one of the quickest and most efficient assessments we’ve ever conducted.”
Accreditation requires successful organisations to have accurate job descriptions, staff access to core training to update their technical skills and a strong performance management system.
Organisations also need to demonstrate a ‘red flag’ system for identifying and addressing high risk areas, such as patient safety and data integrity.