The Southern Primary Care Research Network 3 years on - reflections from the end of the beginning

Despite the large volume of health and administrative data collected every day in primary care, little is available for research in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). The Southern Primary Care Research Network (PCRN) was developed to enable access to primary care data through the establishment of a regional research database, and to create the supportive governance and infrastructure necessary for enabling a broader programme of research. This includes, but is not limited to, studies utilising linked data. This paper describes the formation of the Southern PCRN and the research undertaken so far. It aims to raise awareness about the Southern PCRN, the types of data available, and caveats associated with using primary care data for research.

Research networks require organisational coherence for governance and oversight. Various linked groups take on different roles in the Southern PCRN and are described. Foundational research projects are described, including three data linkage projects, a scoping review, research prioritisation exercises, and the development of an ethical framework for data use.

Securing ongoing funding will improve the capacity of the network to undertake primary care research and facilitate the unification of regional primary care networks to establish a national primary care research network.

Strategic investment in primary care research infrastructure is essential for NZ to fully realise the potential of routinely collected health data to inform equitable service delivery, policy, and innovation in population health. Establishing a regional primary care research network is demonstrably feasible.