The Person-Centred Complex Care (PCCC) Theme addresses common health and social care problems, focusing on the delivery of care in complex environments for people with chronic conditions and multi- morbidity, within a changing NHS and social care environment. Our academic experts have internationally outstanding track-records for delivering research, disseminating and implementing the findings; resulting in better more cost-effective care in for example: cardiometabolic disease, infection, epilepsy, clinical pharmacology. The theme embraces physical and mental health approaches holistically, as recommended by our members.

The overarching aims are to:

·      Improve the delivery, efficiency and equity of care

·      Deliver research and implementation projects that cross the barriers of primary, secondary and tertiary NHS care/social care

·      Build research capacity and teams to co-produce programmes of work prioritised by our members and local populations.

PCCC hosts partner-led projects, develops work from CLAHRC NWC and collaborates with other ARCs. Proposals co-developed and delivered with members and Public Advisers are prioritised according to the needs of providers, commissioners and the populations they serve, and their potential to transform the quality and/or delivery of care. An overarching focus on equity and co-production is mainstreamed across all programmes, which includes smaller responsive mode projects and feasibility/pilot studies to underpin large external collaborative grant applications.

Objectives

Short-term (years 1-2)

·      Identify and co-develop projects (6-8/year) responsive to Partner and community needs. This programme will be refined in regular reviews of process, outcomes and impacts, and the priorities set by ARC NWC Stakeholders
·      Co-develop four larger projects from CLAHRC NWC work (AF, Epilepsy, multiple-morbidity, reducing unplanned care).
·      Submit at least three external grant applications.
·      Integrate this programme with capacity-building, IMPACT, research training studentships (PhDs/Masters) and Knowledge Mobilisation Internships. Identify opportunities for working with industry and SMEs in collaboration with AHSN-NWC (Innovation Agency).
·      Support collaborative projects from other ARCs and national themes.

Medium-term (years 3-4)

·      Undertake, maintain and support partner-led and prioritised projects, supported by Theme academics and MIDAS staff, standalone (4-8/year) plus collaborative external grants (1-2/year).
·      Support ongoing implementation work in collaboration with the IMPACT programme.
·      Support research studentships and fellowship applications, linked to research-capacity development and training.
·      Co-develop and lead a programme of work where we have national leadership roles.
·      Work with Industry partners (and Innovation Agency) to develop Innovate UK applications (~1/year).

Long-term (years 5+)

·      Embed culture and infrastructure to support the co-production of a rolling programme of relevant, equity-focused, externally-funded, internationally excellent applied research and implementation, of complex care in complex settings.
·      Support application for British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence.

Key Contributing Researchers

University of Liverpool
Professor Mark Gabbay
Professor Jason Halford
Professor Gregory Y.H. Lip
Dr Adam Noble
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed
Professor Fiona Rowe
Professor Paula WiIliamson
Professor Nefyn Williams

Lancaster University
Professor Hedley Emsley
Professor Ron Humphrey
Professor Jo Knight

UCLan
Professor Dame Caroline Watkins
Professor Lois Thomas