About the Health Services Research Network

The HSRN is a membership network for organisations and bodies across the UK with an interest in health services research. It provides a unique opportunity for communication between health services researchers, managers and policy makers.

There are over 100 organisations in membership, including around 60 groups of health services researchers in universities and other institutes (representing over a 1000 people), and around 40 NHS bodies with an interest in HSR and knowledge transfer.

The Health Services Research Network Board

To help ensure the HSRN meets its aims it is overseen by a Board structured so that it has representation from the health services research community, research funders and NHS management.

From April 2008 Board Membership is as follows:

1. Chair & elected HSR member - Prof Bonnie Sibbald, Professor of Health Services Research, Chair of Institute of Health Sciences, University of Manchester
2. Elected HSR Network member - Prof Chris Ham, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham
3. Elected HSR Network member - Kathy Rowan, Director, Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre
4. Elected HSR Network member - Prof Charles Wolfe, Head of Health and Social Care Research, Director of R&D, Kings College London, Guys and St Thomas
5. Co-opted HSR member - Cathy Pope, Reader in Health Services Research, University of Southampton
6. Co-opted HSR member - Rachel Elliott, Professor of Medicines & Health, University of Nottingham
7. NHS organisation - Michele Moran, Director of Service Delivery and Chief Nurse, Leeds Partnership NHS Trust
8. NHS organisation - Dr Gavin Russell, Medical Director, University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust
9. Department of Health - Dr Peter Sneddon, Head of Research Programmes
10. The Health Foundation - Dale Webb, Assistant Director, Health Foundation
11. The Nuffield Trust - Jennifer Dixon, Director
12. NHS Confederation - Nigel Edwards, Policy Director

Nick Black stood down as Chair in April 2008 after three years at the helm. His contribution to the HSRN over the past three years has been pivotal to the HSRN's success. Bonnie Sibbald was unanimously elected to the role for the next three years.

Nomination and election

Funders of the Network nominate one representative each to sit on the Board. Three members and the chair are elected from the HSRN paying membership body by postal ballot. The NHS Confederation initially nominated the senior NHS management representatives but from April 2008 these two positions were also through open nomination and election. In February 2008 the Board co-opt two additional academic members to the Board for a three year term.

Elected members serve terms of three years.

Responsibilities of the Board

The work programme of the HSRN is set by the Network members. Their views are fed to the Board via the secretary. The Board meets quarterly and: steers the annual work programme of the Network; represents the Network at external meetings; contributes to the preparation of ad hoc documents such as responses to consultations; updates members on the Network's progress on the work programme at the annual meeting.

Member roles & responsibilities

In joining the HSRN, members agree to:

• participate in the development of the HSRN's work programme
• offer venues for events where appropriate
• participate in taking the work programme forward within their own organisations
• ensure that all useful information and materials are shared with HSRN members
• ensure the organisation is represented at the annual meeting.

Finance

Network members will be invoiced on an annual basis.

The Network operates its own budget and produces a separate set of accounts for the membership annually. The Board steers the way in which funds are allocated.

The HSRN is a standalone project within the framework of the NHS Confederation's governing body and is operated from within the NHS Confederation's group company. The trustees of the NHS Confederation have overall responsibility for the good conduct of the Network and will ensure that there is no cross-subsidisation.