A consultation paper has been issued by the Department of Health on the future of NHS research and development. The paper proposes a new modernisation fund to 'help align funding with priorities', a review of health authority-funded R&D, which is currently excluded from the NHS R&D levy, and a review of public health R&D.The paper is based on an earlier report setting out an overall direction for NHS research efforts.

Consultation Paper: NHS priorities and needs (R&D) . www.doh.gov.uk