Funding for evidence-based nursing practice in the UK

Abstract

Evidence-based practice requires the continuing generation of new knowledge, that is, evidence. The funding to produce this new information is obtainable from a number of sources but has quite limited availability. There are slightly differing arrangements for distribution in each of the countries of the UK, although there are some programmes that are UK-wide. All of these include money previously identified for research, audit or practice development. The Culyer report, Supporting Research and Development in the National Health Service (DoH, 1994), has had an effect on funding across the countries of the UK. With increasing rigour expected, proposals for the development of evidence should be critically appraised. By identifying the methods, the sources and limitations of obtaining the resources for producing evidence, nurses are in a better position to take their practice forward.