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The purpose of our research was to evaluate the implementation of UCLP-Primrose across several general practices in and around London, Bradford, and other sites subject to further rollout.
This mixed-methods study examined the implementation of UCLP-Primrose, a care innovation aimed at reducing physical health inequalities in patients with severe mental illness (SMI). Health inequalities for people with SMI are worsening, and translating evidence-based interventions into practice remains challenging. We aimed to explore whether UCLP-Primrose could be implemented as part of service transformation, identifying key implementation processes, barriers, and facilitators within the NHS.
Below we have pulled together the outputs from our research into UCLP-Primrose implementation (2021-2026). This includes links to papers, our policy brief and a list of conferences.
Papers
- Bridging the gap in the UK’s NHS integrated care systems: Insights from a mixed methods implementation evaluation of UCLP-PRIMROSE, a care innovation to reduce physical health inequalities for patients with severe mental illness. (Shaw et al., pre-print)
Report
Read our research report for UCLP-Primrose (2022-2024):
Check out our infographic based on the research, for steps to implement UCLP-Primrose: 
UCLP-Primrose infographic.pdf
Policy
Read our policy brief for UCLP-Primrose (2022-2024):
Blogs
- Primrose Study: Supporting the whole person: Why physical health matters for patients with severe mental illness
- Public involvement in multiple long term conditions research – what do we need to think about?
- See our infographic
- People designing healthcare – why it’s important, especially in those with multiple long-term conditions, and what we’re doing about it?
Seminars / presentations
- Living well with severe mental ill-health: learning from implementing physical health support in different regional contexts. NIHR Three Research Schools Seminar Series. (Oliver, Shaw, Russell, Steward & Pina, 2025).
- Using the Equality Impact Assessment with UCLP-Primrose research. Centre for Ethnic Health Research. (Shaw & Khurshid, 2022)
Conferences
- UCLP-PRIMROSE. ARC National Programme in Multiple Long Term Conditions Dissemination Event, Leicester. (March 2025).
- The UCLPartners-PRIMROSE pathway - Reducing physical health inequalities in severe mental illness. Results from implementing UCLPartners-PRIMROSE, a care innovation for patients in London and Yorkshire/Humber. Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress, Edinburgh. (June 2024).
- UCLP-PRIMROSE ARC East Midlands Showcase, Leicester. (May 2024).
- The UCLP-Primrose project: transformative care – are we looking at it right? Qualitative Health Research Network Conference, Online. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-UCL-QHRN2024.43. (February 2024).
- Evaluation of an integrated primary care service to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in people with severe mental illness. ARC North Thames Showcase, London. (20023)
Coming up! We have been accepted to present at:
- Equality at the juncture of physical and mental health: where and how is change needed. UCL Behaviour Change Conference, Lisbon. (April 2025)
- From Evidence to Action: Our learning from implementation and non-implementation of an integrated care model for people with severe mental ill-health (UCLP-PRIMROSE) in three regions of England. European Implementation Event, Newcastle. (June 2025)
- Learning from across sector collaborative implementation of a holistic care model for people with severe mental ill-health. Health Services Research UK Conference, Newcastle. (July 2025)
Funding statement
This research was is independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research ARC East Midlands and ARC North Thames. The views expressed in this publication and output materials are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health Research and Care or the Department of Health and Social Care.
