An R&D Strategy for the NHS in England was published in 1991. An Information Systems Strategy (ISS) to support this was subsequently developed, emphasising the importance of reviews of R&D findings to decision makers. The UK Cochrane Centre and the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination were funded within this framework.

The approach to dissemination and implementation has now been reviewed in the light of experience of these and related work aiming to promote the implementation of R&D findings, including the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford and a range of local initiatives such as Getting Research into Practice (GRIP).

Roles and responsibilities have been identified for different parts of the NHS in the delivery of evidence based policy and practice. A number of "national product lines" are identified, including R&D reports, reviews of R&D findings, professional guidelines and central policy statements. The role of the NHS Executive is to ensure that these products are available on the most important topics, and to support the purchasers and providers of health care in accessing these and translating them into appropriate local action. Current work to fund and promote the development, dissemination and use by the service of high quality R&D reports, reviews and guidelines is discussed.