Research passports and letters of access

If you are an external researcher delivering research within Whittington Health NHS Trust, you will require a letter of access (LOA). The Health Research Authority (HRA) has created a streamlined system for managing HR arrangements and pre-engagement checks for external researchers accessing NHS sites.

 

A letter of access (LOA) can be acquired by NHS workers who are already employed by an NHS organisation, and as part of a research study need to access the NHS site hosting the study. The LOA will be facilitated by the research support team.

 

To complete the LOA, NHS employed researchers are required to provide a CV and a signed NHS to NHS Performa confirming their pre-engagement checks.

 

An LOA can be acquired by external researchers who are not employed by an NHS organisation via a Research Passport. This method allows an NHS Trust to complete one initial review and checks on a researcher to ensure they are qualified and suitable to deliver research in the Trust.

 

The HRA have created a form which is completed by the researcher and their employer, which is validated by an NHS organisation.

 

Once the Research Passport has been validated and submitted to the appropriate research office, the researcher will be provided with a LOA. If working with vulnerable people a DBS check to the relevant standard will be required.

 

Please note: If a researcher will be engaging in activities that impact the direct care of patients, an honorary contract is required. If this is the case, please inform the research team, as this requires HR to process the request, and it should be noted it will take longer to process. 

 

The table below provides an overview of the application of the access requirements. If you are still uncertain or want to know more, please contact us via whh-tr.researchsupport@nhs.net.

The Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) website has information and guidance regarding LOA and Research Passports to help researchers complete these documents.

 

Please find below the recent documents and supporting information for completing these applications:

For further information please visit the IRAS website.