Evaluation survey now open. We invite you to take part in a short survey, ~ 5 minutes, that explores your views and experiences of public health research in local government and equivalent organisations across the UK, go to the survey.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield are carrying out an evaluation of the NIHR PHIRST scheme. The NIHR funded evaluation will examine how the PHIRST scheme currently operates, how well it meets its aims and what recommendations could be implemented in the future.

Invitation to participate in a short survey on public health research in local government and equivalent organisations

We invite you to take part in a short survey that explores your views and experiences of public health research in local government and equivalent organisations across the UK.

The survey forms part of an evaluation of the Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams (PHIRST) scheme. The PHIRST scheme is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The scheme pairs academic researchers with local government teams in England, or equivalent organisations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, to evaluate local interventions that aim to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. The aim of the PHIRST scheme is to build the evidence base for local government decision-making as it relates to health.

Your feedback will help us understand the extent to which the PHIRST scheme and the evidence it generates are meeting the needs of stakeholders, and how the impact of the PHIRST scheme can be maximised. Further information about this evaluation is available here.

Who can take part? We welcome responses from anyone interested in public health or in the evaluation of public health interventions relevant to local government and equivalent organisations across the UK, including (but not limited to):

• Public health practitioners, consultants, and the wider public health-related workforce
• Commissioners and managers of public health interventions in local government and equivalent organisations
• Researchers interested in public health
• People involved in delivering public health initiatives

Taking part Taking part involves completing a short, one-off survey, which should take no more than five minutes. The survey is open to people who have experience of the PHIRST scheme, as well as those who have not been involved with the PHIRST scheme or who are not familiar with the scheme.

Please complete the survey here (or paste this link into your browser: https://shef.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_86vEJBIyrgCVXuu)

Alternative formats If you would prefer to complete the survey with a researcher online or over the phone, or if you need the survey in an alternative format, please contact Helen Keighley at h.keighley@sheffield.ac.uk.

About the survey The survey will remain open until November 2026.

All responses will be treated confidentially and used for research purposes only. Individual responses will not be shared with your employer, colleagues, or any other organisation.

We want to hear from as many people as possible, so please feel free to forward this invitation to colleagues, peers, or others who may be interested.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Helen Keighley at h.keighley@sheffield.ac.uk.

Thank you for considering this survey invitation. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.

The PHIRST scheme was established in 2020 to strengthen evidence based decision making in local government. Applicants whose projects are adopted into the scheme are paired with one of PHIRST’s academic teams who work together to co develop an evaluation for a named public health intervention. PHIRST then conducts the evaluation and reports its findings within a 12-18 month period.  All evaluation costs are covered by PHIRST. The application process is competitive, and the numbers of applications has continued to rise since its inception.

The research team, led by Dr Annette Haywood, will investigate whether the scheme, its participating teams, and the evidence it produces are meeting the needs of different stakeholders. They will explore whether the programme remains fit for purpose and how it could evolve to deliver even greater impact across the public health system.

Conducting the research

As part of the evaluation the team will look at projects across the PHIRST portfolio and applications that have been submitted to the scheme. They will launch an online survey in July 2026 aimed at academic researchers and local government staff who have been involved in PHIRST projects and a sample of of applicants who were not. They will conduct interviews with a cross section of people that have been part of PHIRST evaluations to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences.

Public Involvement   

The evaluation includes a public member as a co-applicant and up to three additional public contributors. They will be involved in all aspects of designing and delivering the evaluation. Ensuring this work focuses on the people PHIRST is trying to help.

Dissemination and knowledge mobilisation

The evaluation will conclude in April 2027 and the team will share their findings.

The full project protocol can be found on the NIHR Awards Database: NIHR169789