I have worked in a HE library for over 20 years, all of which have been spent carrying out various roles (document supply, cataloguing, book acquisitions, site librarian) within the Health Sciences Library.  I have a BA in Information Studies and a PG Diploma in Health Informatics, both of which I carried out on a part time basis whilst working in the field.  More recently I acted, in a job share arrangement, as Academic Liaison (subject) Librarian for Medicine, which for us in Sheffield, involved liaison with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, form which we are commissioned to provide Library services.  During 2008, a review of NHS funded library services was published and, for the first time, the importance of library services to support clinical care was recognised.  At the University of Sheffield Library, we responded by developing a section for NHS services, within the team are myself; a dedicated outreach librarian and a project officer - we also provide the National Library of Guidelines on behalf of the NHS.

Doing the Right Thing Right: the Role of Document Supply in supporting NHS Clinical Practice

This interactive workshop will examine some of the issues relating to the provision of information to support clinical practice with today's NHS.

The validity and reliability of research findings in the literature is of variable quality and only a small proportion of published research is of real relevance to clinical practice.  In today's culture, which is driven by "evidence-based practice" coupled with a model of whole journal purchasing, document supply can play a pivotal role to ensure that NHS clinicians have access to the best quality evidence, the published research that they need.  Never has the importance of information in supporting clinical care been as well recognised as it is today.  Words frequently spoken by Sir Muir Grey, the Chief Knowledge Officer of the NHS are "Knowledge is the enemy of disease, the application of what we know will have a bigger impact than any drug or technology likely to be introduced in the next decade".

We, as information specialists are in the ideal place to facilitate the transfer of knowledge through the information that we supply.  What better place to supply the information than at the point of clinical care: the place where clinical questions are raised and the process of enquiry should take place?  Delegates at this session will be given first hand experience of some of the obstacles facing NHS clinicians when they try to locate and read research evidence.  We will also have the opportunity to consider and discuss ways in which librarians can maximise their important role by, as is frequently quoted in healthcare, "doing the right thing right": delivering the right documents to the right users at the right time and in the right place.