The PCRN has, as a central objective, the development of the evidence base to inform the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of illness and disease in primary care.   There are 8 of these networks within England which will work together with other networks in specific disease areas.

 The aims of the PCRN (SW) are: 

• To provide a world-class health service infrastructure to support studies originating from a range of sources
• To facilitate the conduct of clinical trials and other well-designed studies in primary care and at the interface with secondary/tertiary care
• To create a unified structure that will safeguard and build on the quality and breadth of ongoing activities in primary care research
• To facilitate and increase the participation of practices and practitioners to foster participant recruitment, retention and the collection of high quality data
• To develop a portfolio of primary care research studies in primary care and in areas that will make a difference to the lives of patients supporting a wide range of studies, both national, local, commercial and non-commercial.  The latest adoption criteria for studies to be added to this portfolio can be found by clicking here or by clicking here for a pdf download.  A flow chart explaining the procedure is also available.
  
   
• To continue to build capacity to support these activities by working with others.

Dr Philip Evans is the Director of the Primary Care Research Network South West, Dr Evans is based in the West Hub (Exeter based). Dr Mike Moore is the East Hub (Southampton based) Deputy Director/Clinical Lead and Dr Sarah Purdy is the North Hub (Bristol based) Clinical Lead. All are General Practitioners.

Mrs Rachel Exell is the Network Manager who is based in the West Hub (Exeter based). To view the complete structure of the PCRN (SW), please view the leaflet which shows full contacts details.