Abstract
The “Peckham” initiative is introducing a coherent
framework for research and development (R&D) in the UK National
Health Service (NHS). This entails close collaboration between the
universities and the health service. However, there are inherent
weaknesses in the current ethos of research and academic which suggest
that there may be little understanding of the needs of NHS decision
makers. There is a danger if health service managers do not take control
of the agenda for R&D that it will be subverted to serve narrow
academic interests. Explores means by which this can be averted.
Suggests that managers should control the strategy of R&D and
through the use of checklists determine broadly the content of study
protocols.