News in 2025

Evaluating a trauma-informed programme to support people facing multiple disadvantage

6 November 2025

Cross-sector collaboration and long-term stable funding are key to making services more trauma-informed for people facing multiple disadvantage, according to a new study. The evaluation was conducted by University of Bristol and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR ARC) West staff in collaboration with Changing Futures Bristol, and funded by the NIHR Three Research Schools Mental Health Practice Evaluation Scheme.

Organisational barriers and enablers to infant abuse prevention programme ICON

5 November 2025

How healthcare managers and frontline staff influence the delivery and sustainability of a key infant abuse prevention initiative across the NHS has been revealed in a new study. The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West)-led evaluation of ICON, a UK-wide programme designed to reduce the risk of abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants, is published in BMC Public Health.

New pledge to create healthier places in Bristol and surrounding areas

23 October 2025

Local authorities and health partners across the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (ICS) have come together to celebrate the launch of the Why Weight? Pledge for creating healthier places together. The event, held at St Michael’s Centre in Stoke Gifford on 6 October was a celebration of the commitment to a collective effort to create a future where everyone has the access and ability to eat well, feel well and be active.

NHS policies to improve care for people taking multiple medicines may not be effective

21 October 2025

Current NHS policies designed to improve care for people taking multiple medicines may not be effective, according to new research.

Pilot study shows the challenges and achievements of conducting a clinical trial of mistletoe therapy for breast cancer patients in the UK

16 October 2025

A pilot randomised controlled clinical trial of mistletoe therapy for breast cancer patients has shown that it is feasible to conduct a UK NHS trial. The Mistletoe and Breast Cancer (MAB) Study was led by researchers Professor Gene Feder and Dr Alyson Huntley from the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol with NHS partners. A paper published in the journal Cancers describes the trial challenges and achievements.

Improving cancer care for people with disabilities and long-term conditions

15 October 2025

A recent study has looked at ways to improve cancer care for people with disabilities and long-term conditions. It has highlighted improvements that can be made to ensure adjustments support the needs of these groups.

GPs need training to spot perimenopause-related mental health issues

15 October 2025

GPs need training to spot mental health issues related to the perimenopause, according to new University of Bristol-led research published in the British Journal of General Practice.

New survey reveals hidden toll of domestic abuse on NHS healthcare workers

14 October 2025

More than half of healthcare workers who responded to a survey at a major NHS trust have experienced domestic abuse, with many reporting serious impacts on their health, wellbeing and ability to work.

People with severe mental illness gain three times as much weight as peers, yet weight-management referrals do not increase

23 September 2025

People with severe mental illness gain 4kg more weight than peers over 15 years but aren't offered more weight-management support, identifying crucial five-year intervention window.

Primary care holds the key to tackling obesity – but needs more support

22 September 2025

A new review published in Clinical Obesity highlights the vital role that primary care services can play in helping support people with obesity – but also reveals the challenges that must be overcome.

Pharmacies could play key role in ending new HIV transmissions: new policy briefing

17 September 2025

Community pharmacies should be at the heart of HIV prevention efforts by raising awareness of and providing access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), according to a new policy briefing from the University of Bristol. PrEP is a pill that prevents HIV transmission.

Mental health literacy found to be a key factor in how CBT for depression works

17 September 2025

A new study from researchers at Bristol Medical School has shed light on how cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps people with depression, and it turns out that improving people’s understanding of mental health may be a big part of the answer.

Substance use services for sex industry workers must be flexible, non-judgmental, and responsive to complex needs

16 September 2025

A critical review of relevant research suggests that substance use services for individuals working in the sex industry must be flexible, non-judgmental, and responsive to the complex needs of this group. The review, conducted by a team involving ARC West and University of Bristol researchers, is published in Health & Social Care in the Community.

Experts urge the medical profession to confront the global arms industry

2 September 2025

New BMJ series uncovers the role of the arms trade in health and calls for more scrutiny of its health-harming activities and its unhealthy relationship with governments.

Discomfort as a catalyst for change: new research highlights the role of emotional challenge in domestic abuse perpetrator programmes

7 August 2025

A new study led by researchers from the University of Bristol and collaborators across the UK and Finland has shed light on the critical role of psychological discomfort in promoting behavioural change among men participating in domestic abuse perpetrator programmes (DAPPs).

Remembering Jon Banks

25 July 2025

Remembering our colleague Jon Banks, 1962-2025

How COVID-19 lockdowns affected access to GP services for vulnerable groups

21 July 2025

Some of the most vulnerable people in society were less able to access GP care during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the general population, according to new research published in BJGP Open. The study, led by researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Oxford and Glasgow, also found those effects continued long after lockdowns ended.

New study will assess the use of live video consultations during 999 calls to aid emergency dispatch decisions

11 July 2025

The Welsh Ambulance Service is leading on a study into the use of live video consultations to help decision making when deploying critical care teams in response to 999 calls. The project is a collaboration between clinicians and researchers across the Welsh Ambulance Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service, University of Warwick, University of Bristol, Imperial College, Aberystwyth University, the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service, and the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

Automated system to capture patients’ views on their involvement in decisions about their surgery is acceptable to patients and surgeons

8 July 2025

Patients and surgeons have reported that a new, automated system to monitor patients’ views on how much they have felt involved in decision-making about their surgery is acceptable. The study, led by researchers from NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the Centre for Academic Primary Care, is published in BMJ Open.

Life in a Coastal Town: New exhibition explores mental health and community through art

2 July 2025

How does it feel to live in Weston-super-Mare when you are struggling with your mental health? What resources exist in the local community – and what barriers are there to accessing them? A new free exhibition coming to Weston Museum from Tuesday 8 to Thursday 17 July explores these questions through the creative storytelling of people who often feel excluded.

Breakthrough technology that saves lives by detecting dangerous synthetic drugs in real time wins chemistry award

25 June 2025

A revolutionary handheld device that helps to save lives by detecting dangerous synthetic drugs almost instantly has won its creators - including researchers from the University of Bristol - a prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry Horizon Prize.

Understanding health services use among Chinese residents in Bristol / 了解布里斯托尔的华人居民如何使用医疗保健服务 / 了解布里斯托爾的華人居民如何使用醫療保健服務

16 June 2025

Our study aims to understand UK Chinese residents’ views and experiences of accessing and using health services, with a focus on healthcare in relation to cancer screening and vaccinations, mental health and sexually transmitted infections, where there are known health inequities within the Chinese population. / 本研究计划了解在英华人在获取和使用医疗服务方面的看法与经历。研究将重点关注癌症筛查和疫苗接种、心理健康以及性传播感染等方面的医疗服务，华人群体在这些健康服务方面已面临不平等的情况。/ 本研究計劃了解在英華人在獲取和使用醫療服務方面的看法與經歷。研究將重點關注癌症篩查與疫苗接種、心理健康以及性傳播感染等方面的醫療服務；華人群體在這些健康服務方面已面臨不平等的情況。

New Friends and Family Handbook gives advice on how to support someone experiencing domestic abuse

3 June 2025

A new Friends and Family Handbook, written by Dr Alison Gregory, an Independent Academic and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, has been launched by Women’s Aid Federation of England. The handbook provides practical support and information for anyone worried about someone who is or may be experiencing domestic abuse.

First ‘core outcome set’ for ear infection studies in primary and community care

7 May 2025

Researchers have produced a standard set of outcomes that should be measured and reported in future studies involving common acute ear infections. This ‘core outcome set’ will allow future ear infection studies to be more consistent with each other, so evidence can be accumulated over time.

Breaking the cycle: supporting young boys in violent homes could prevent relationship violence, study suggests

1 May 2025

Young men growing up around parents who are physically violent to each other are 43% more likely to carry out violence or abuse in their own relationships, new University of Bristol research has found.

NIHR SPCR General Practice Commercial Research Fellows opportunity

30 April 2025

The National Institute for Health and Care Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR) is offering up to 11 General Practice Commercial Research Fellowships, with positions available at various universities across the UK, including Bristol.

Primary care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) Impact Report published

29 April 2025

The Primary Care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT) has published its Summary & Impact Report 2019–2024, highlighting five years of collaborative research achievements supported by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR).

New UK Centre hopes to change public attitudes towards grief

24 April 2025

Grief affects everyone but is still very much a taboo subject in the UK. A new Centre - the first of its kind in the UK - hopes to shift public attitudes towards grief and create communities that are compassionate and connected in their support of people who are bereaved. The Centre for Grief Research and Community Engagement (Grief Centre) at the University of Bristol is launched today [24 April].

New research to support a thriving health and care workforce is launched

9 April 2025

A new national research partnership will explore ways to support wellbeing and sustainability in the NHS and social care same day and urgent care workforce. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and led by UWE Bristol in collaboration with the University of Bristol and nine other institutions, the partnership will investigate the root causes of frequent staff shortages, high employee sickness rates and difficulties recruiting new staff with a view to finding solutions.

Relaxation techniques may help lower high blood pressure—at least in the short term

8 April 2025

Relaxation techniques may help lower high blood pressure—at least in the short term—but the longer term effects are unclear, finds a pooled data analysis of the existing research. The study, led by the Universities of Bristol and Exeter and published and published in BMJ Medicine, is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Supporting people with heart failure who want to be physically active

7 April 2025

New University of Bristol research on how healthcare professionals can support people with heart failure who want to be more physically active has been published in BMJ Open. The study recommends a personalised approach facilitated by health professionals focusing on both physical and mental health.

Auxiliary Nurse Midwife from Nepal in clinical setting stands smiling towards camera

New documentary shines light on healthcare responses to violence against women

3 April 2025

A powerful new documentary film, created through the Healthcare Responding to Violence and Abuse (HERA) study, captures the transformative potential of healthcare systems to support women affected by domestic violence. The film was created to amplify women’s voices, shed light on their experiences, and explore how healthcare providers in low-resource settings can better respond to domestic violence.

New guidance to help clinicians improve care for people with multiple long-term conditions

26 March 2025

New guidance for primary care clinicians on how to conduct personalised annual reviews for patients with multiple long-term conditions has been developed by researchers from the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West). Patients with multiple long-term conditions need regular reviews to monitor their health, wellbeing and medications.

Professor Alastair Hay chosen for Senior Investigator role by National Institute for Health and Care Research

20 March 2025

Three University of Bristol academics have been awarded Senior Investigator status by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), including Alastair Hay, Professor of Primary Care at the Centre for Academic Primary Care .

Applications open for NIHR School for Primary Care Research-funded summer internships 2025

12 March 2025

We have two exciting summer internship opportunities for UK undergraduates, irrespective of degree discipline, who are interested in primary care research. These are a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on experience conducting primary care research with experts in the field.

Paramedics in GP surgeries may ease workload but not NHS costs, study finds

28 February 2025

Paramedics working in GP surgeries help reduce GP workload but do not contribute to cost savings to the NHS, according to the first major study of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of paramedic compared with GP consultations.

Greater openness about the use of complementary and alternative medicines in UK dairy farming could bring benefits

26 February 2025

Greater openness about complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) use has the potential to strengthen farmer-vet relationships, which may prevent potential unintended harm to animals, reduce antibiotic use and improve herd health management, new research has found. The study led by the University of Bristol is published today [26 February] in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

Clinicians should be wary of a ‘one size fits all’ approach to communicating blood test results in primary care

25 February 2025

Online access to test results is generally well accepted by patients, but reliance on electronic communication methods alone is not sufficient to meet the needs of different patients and different types of test result, according to University of Bristol led research published in the British Journal of General Practice today [25 February].

Adverse childhood experiences in firstborns associated with poor mental health of siblings

3 February 2025

Children are nearly three-quarters (71%) more likely to develop mental health problems between the ages of five and 18, if the firstborn child in their family experienced adversity during their first 1,000 days, finds a new UCL-led study involving Bristol researchers.

Signposting children to weight management services could happen when parents attend an adult programme

21 January 2025

Parents attending an adult weight management programme, who were worried about their child’s weight, would accept support and signposting to services for their child if it was offered, new research has found. The study is published today [21 January] in BMJ Paediatrics Open.

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