Jisc has announced an agreement with scientific journal publishers. A year-long pilot will allow staff working across the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland free trial access to some of the most respected medical and scientific journals so they can read for themselves the latest trials and research. This is good news for evidence-based healthcare and will give healthcare professionals the opportunity to weigh up the latest developments in the study of disease.
A steering group comprising representatives from the UK academic sector, Jisc, NHS Education for Scotland and the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is overseeing this pilot.
Publishers who have agreed to take part include: AAAS, Annual Reviews, Elsevier, IOP Publishing, Nature Publishing Group, Oxford University Press, Royal Society of Chemistry and Springer.
After the trial period of a year the steering group will determine how to take forward future opportunities for NHS staff to access research journals. NHS practitioners should contact their trust or Health Board librarian for information on the trial.
