Introduction

The Richard Wells Research Centre, based at the University of West London, conducts an active programme of research focusing on improving patient safety. The Centre conducts primary research, undertakes guideline development and review and, through its work as an internationally accredited centre for evidence-based practice, carries out comprehensive systematic reviews.

Our particular areas of expertise are:

  • patient safety and infection
  • mental health
  • midwifery and family health
  • learning disability

We form local, national and international multi-professional collaborative research and teaching networks with a variety of agencies, institutions, professional organisations and healthcare providers. We work with clinicians, academics, learned societies, patients, carers and the public to undertake, and advise on, research and educational initiatives

About the Richard Wells Centre

two nurses in training room

As a nurse-led research centre, we undertake research that contributes to the delivery of better health and social care for individuals.

Our research spans many settings from traditional clinical environments to research in the care home sector. 

Our centre is named after Richard Wells, one of the most outstanding UK nursing leaders of the past who continues to inspire us today.

  • About Richard Wells RN FRCN 1950-1993

    Our Centre is named after the late Richard Wells, our friend and colleague and one of the outstanding nursing leaders of our time.

    Richard had a distinguished career in nursing at The Royal Marsden Hospital, where he held various positions, including Director of the Marie Curie Rehabilitation Centre. Richard was also a Consultant to a host of national and international organisations, including the World Health Organization, International Union Against Cancer, International Council of Nurses, European Oncology Society and the UK Departments of Health.

    As the Oncology Nursing Adviser at the Royal College of Nursing, Richard was the major force in shaping a professional nursing response to the emerging epidemic of HIV infection and AIDS in the UK. In doing so, he inspired a generation of nurses and other healthcare professionals and supported the development of models of care for people with AIDS that are among the best in the world.

    He was challenging, dynamic and warm and totally focused on ensuring that all patients, including those infected with HIV, received competent and compassionate non-judgemental care. Richard died in 1993 and is remembered with respect and affection throughout the United Kingdom. Because HIV infection and AIDS have been dominant themes in our research and international education programmes for many years, we wanted to remember and honour Richard’s contribution by naming our Centre after him.

Research projects

We undertake a wide range of pragmatic research: 

Patient and public involvement in research

  • Patient and public involvement in research

    Introduction

    The RWRC is committed to patient and public involvement in all of our research activity. Many of our current research studies have lay representatives as members of the research teams and public members acting in advisory roles to our studies.

    SURF

    Previously the Centre was responsible for establishing and running the Service User Research Forum (SURF) for Healthcare-Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance as part of the Department of Health’s National HCAI Research Network. Staff at UWL ran SURF for seven years.

    SURF consisted of ten members of the public with a specific interest in making a useful and meaningful contribution to research in the areas of HCAI and AMR.

    The support provided by the SURF group has helped many researchers from a range of academic and NHS research institutes to:

    • Better understand the patient perspective
    • Ensure research and outcomes are focused on patient concerns
    • Meet funding requirements with regard to public involvement and
    • Develop skills and models for involving members of the public as partners in research.

    Current PPI activity and support

    Whilst no longer funded by the Department of Health, members of the SURF group are still active.

    Therefore, we are able to offer researchers working in the field of HCAI and AMR research advice on public involvement in research, which includes developing PPI strategies for research funding applications and facilitating the involvement of lay members in research proposals and funded projects. 

    If you are seeking support in involving the public in your research, please contact Alison Tingle.

epic3 guidelines

Patient safety remains at the heart of government health policy, and the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) continues to be a key priority in ensuring high-quality care.

Guidelines based on the best available evidence of effectiveness are an important tool for setting standards of care and assisting healthcare staff in delivering safe care.

The Richard Wells Research Centre, funded by the Department of Health, undertook the revision and update of the epic2 National Guidelines for the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections in NHS Hospitals in England.

Reference

Loveday, H. et al., (2014). epic3: National Evidence-Based Guidelines for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections in NHS Hospitals in England. Journal of Hospital Infection, Jan: 86 Suppl, S1-S70.

Our members

Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Courses

A group of students attending class at UWL Paragon site

The Centre offers the Joanna Briggs course in Comprehensive Systematic Review Training.

This five-day short course is designed to prepare researchers and clinicians to develop, conduct and report comprehensive systematic reviews of evidence using systematic review software. 

Over 1,000 participants in 35 countries have undertaken this programme successfully. Participants who successfully complete the programme are certified by the Joanna Briggs Institute as competent in the systematic review process.

Please contact us for details of our next training event. 

University of West London shuttle bus outside Paragon House

All courses will be held at the University of West London, Paragon House, Brentford, TW8 9GA.

Classes will be from 9 am until 5 pm every day.

The five-day course contains three modules. Modules are subject to change, but currently include:

  • An introduction to evidence-based healthcare and the systematic review of evidence (1 day)
  • The Systematic review of evidence generated by quantitative research (2 days)
  • The Systematic review of evidence generated by qualitative research, narrative and text (2 days).

On completion of the course, each researcher will be expected to undertake a systematic review either on a subject of their choice or as part of their on-going research activities.

For more detailed information, please contact christine.logan@uwl.ac.uk

Contact us

College Administrator
  • christine.logan@uwl.ac.uk
  • +44 (0)20 8209 4154 5
  • Richard Wells Research Centre, The University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, TW8 9GA, UK

Find out how to get to our Brentford site.

Academic contacts

Find out more

  • Research Centres

    Find out about our multi-disciplinary areas of expertise, research, and teaching.

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  • Research impact

    Learn how our research has helped communities locally, nationally and internationally.

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  • Research degrees

    Join an active and supportive research community.

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