Rapid Review Panel

The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) assesses innovative infection prevention and control products, equipment and materials for potential use in the NHS.

Role of the group

The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) evaluates products for potential use in the NHS on the basis of scientific evidence to support claims of improved efficiency or efficacy of infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions to reduce healthcare associated infections (HCAIs).

Products are voluntarily submitted and evaluated on the basis of the supplied scientific evidence demonstrating improved efficiency or efficacy over existing products, innovation and product quality and use.

Recommendations

The RRP may make 1 of the following evaluations:

  • E1: Basic research and development, validation and recent in use evaluations and trials have shown that the product is likely to have benefit(s) in improving infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions to reduce healthcare associated infections (HCAI) within the NHS; the RRP recommends considering the use of this product in the NHS to improve IPC interventions to reduce HCAIs

  • E2: Basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; the RRP recommends in use evaluations and trials to demonstrate improved efficiency or efficacy in improving infection prevention and control to reduce healthcare associated infections are considered within an active NHS clinical setting

  • E3: Basic research and development has begun and the product may have value; the product requires head-to-head trials against existing available products to demonstrate improved efficiency or efficacy in improving infection prevention and control interventions to reduce healthcare associated infection

  • E4: Potentially useful product but insufficient evidence presented; further research and development with the product as intended to be used in the NHS is required to demonstrate improvements in infection prevention and control interventions to reduce healthcare associated infections before it is ready for in use evaluation within the NHS

  • E5: Evidence presented does not demonstrate that the product is more efficient or efficacious at improving infection prevention and control interventions to reduce healthcare associated infections than other available products currently in use

  • E6: Evidence presented does not demonstrate that the product has a contribution to make to improvements in infection prevention and control interventions to reduce healthcare associated infections

  • NE: (No Evaluation); this product is outside the remit for review or the evidence has been submitted in a way which does not allow for an evaluation by the Rapid Review Panel

Terms of reference

Membership

Current members are:

  • Mark Wilcox (Chair): Director of Clinical Microbiology, Leeds Teaching Hospital
  • Andrew Bates: Director, Patients2People (independent healthcare provider)
  • Stephen Denyer: Pro-Vice Chancellor of Learning and Teaching, University of Brighton
  • Rose Gallagher: Nurse Adviser, Infection Prevention and Control, Royal College of Nursing
  • Kate Gould: Lead Public Health Microbiologist, Public Health England
  • Peter Hoffman: Consultant Clinical Scientist, Public Health England
  • Jonathan Plumb: Senior Health Protection Practitioner, Public Health England
  • Wayne Spencer: Healthcare Facilities Consultant, Spencer Nickson Ltd
  • Jimmy Walker: Water System Microbiology and Decontamination Expert, Public Health England

Publications

Submit a product for review

Applicants should email the secretariat a brief product description. The secretariat will reply directly.

RRP@phe.gov.uk

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Programme team
Rapid Review Panel Secretariat
Public Health England
Floor 7N, Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8UG

Contact details

RRP@phe.gov.uk

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