The Richard Wells Research Centre
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
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.
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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:
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Pandemic preparedness plans during COVID-19
Evaluation of the implementation of pandemic preparedness plans during COVID-19 at the interface with infection prevention and control services in acute and community care.
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The PRHAPs Study
Preventing non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia.
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StOP UTI
STrategies for Older People living in care homes to prevent Urinary Tract Infection.
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The I-Hydrate Project
Optimising the hydration of residents in nursing homes to improve the quality and safety of care.
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Delivering safe, effective nutrition and hydration care to residents with dysphagia
We aim to understand how the care for people in nursing and residential care homes who have a problem with swallowing, called dysphagia can be cared for safely and effectively.
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Assessment of drinking vessel design
Assessment of drinking vessel design and use by older adults in a care setting.
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U-DECIDE
Preventing short-term urethral catheters becoming long-term.
Patient and public involvement in research
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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.
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What is the background to the epic guidelines?
The epic guidelines were first commissioned by the Department of Health in 1998, revised in 2006 (epic2) and published in the Journal of Hospital Infection in 2001 and 2007.
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What do the epic3 guidelines provide?
The epic3 guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations for preventing HCAI in hospital and other acute care settings based on the best currently available evidence.
National evidence-based guidelines are broad principles of best practice that need to be integrated into local practice guidelines and audited to reduce variation in practice and maintain patient safety.
Clinically effective infection prevention and control practice is an essential feature of patient protection. By incorporating these guidelines into routine daily clinical practice, patient safety can be enhanced, and the risk of patients acquiring an infection during episodes of health care in NHS hospitals in England can be minimised.
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What is included in the updated epic3 guidelines
The epic3 guidelines include the following:
- Standard precautions for preventing HCAI
- Hospital environmental hygiene
- Hand hygiene
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Use and disposal of sharps
- Asepsis (new)
- Preventing infection associated with the use of short term indwelling urethral catheters
- Preventing infection associated with the use of Intravascular Catheters (new).
- Standard precautions for preventing HCAI
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Who should I contact for any enquiries regarding epic3?
For any enquiries regarding epic3 please contact Professor Heather Loveday.
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Where can I access the epic3 guidelines?
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
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Our members
Head of the Richard Wells Centre
Associate members
- Professor Bob Gates
- Dr Obed Brew
Contributory members
- Dr Rowan Myron
- Carolynn Greene
- Professor Martin Kiernan (visiting professor)
Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Courses
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.
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
- Professor Heather Loveday - epic3 and comprehensive systematic review training courses.
- Dr Kay Mafuba - improving health of people with a learning disability and the context of care.
Find out more
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Research Centres
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