Infonetica have delivered both the online form functionality and supporting web-based database for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Coordinated System for gaining NHS Permission (CSP). This is a new system that will standardise and streamline the process for gaining NHS permission for clinical research studies in England. NIHR CSP will ensure that the relevant quality assurance and statutory requirements are met whilst reducing approval times and cutting bureaucracy. NIHR CSP has been developed as a result of the Government NHS R&D strategy ''Best Research for Best Health''. NIHR CSP initially will be available only for studies in the NIHR Portfolio.

The benefits of the new system are:

• Consistency: A consistent and comprehensive set of NHS research governance checks for all new studies
• Speed: Streamlining and rationalising processes to reduce NHS R&D approval times
• Predictability: A single system for processing and reviewing applications for NHS permission, coordinated by a central CSP Unit and with local processes supported through NIHR Comprehensive Local Research Networks (CLRNs).

NIHR CSP ''goes live'' in the NHS on 18 November 2008. There are a number of key changes to note:

• NIHR CSP should be used as the default system for gaining NHS permission for NIHR portfolio studies and researchers are encouraged to submit all applications through NIHR CSP From 01 April 2009, NHS organisations will need to use NIHR CSP exclusively for NIHR portfolio studies in order to continue receiving NIHR clinical research network funding
• NIHR CSP does not change the requirement for each NHS organisation to confirm permission for new research to be carried out
• NIHR CSP does not change the duty of care placed upon NHS organisations when carrying out studies
• NIHR CSP at the present time cannot be used for studies that are not eligible for the NIHR Portfolio

NIHR CSP will be reviewed and refined on an ongoing basis. This will be a collaborative process to ensure that NIHR CSP is optimised.