If you’re looking for knowledge and evidence to support your work, development, study and research, you’ve come to the right place.
Below is whole range of resources – all available free from your NHS knowledge and library services, for anyone working or studying in England.
Where do I start?
Your free NHS OpenAthens account is your key to unlocking digital knowledge resources.
If you need help to register or renew your account, watch our short video or contact your local or regional administrator.
Finding information
Connecting you seamlessly to a range of high-quality knowledge and evidence resources all in one place, the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub is a single gateway to 1000s of journals, books, clinical decision support tools, and databases like Medline.
TRIP is a smart tool to find high quality clinical research evidence on the web. Log in with your NHS OpenAthens account for full access to TRIP Pro including advanced searching, enhanced linking to full text, access to ongoing clinical trials and extra systematic reviews.
For more advanced searching and systematic review, use databases like Medline, Embase and PsycINFO. Go to our Resources for advanced searching page for more information and links to training.
If you’re new to literature searching, or need a refresher, why not try this e-learning course: How to search the literature effectively? Our Critically Appraising the Evidence Base e-learning course will help you to evaluate research articles.
Clinical decision support and medicines information
BMJ Best Practice is an award-winning online decision-support tool for use at the point of care. BMJ Best Practice draws on the latest evidence-based research to offer step-by-step guidance on diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and prevention. It gives you a second opinion in an instant and is available 24/7 on the web and an app. The integrated Comorbidities Manager allows you to manage acute presentations alongside a patient’s existing conditions for a more holistic approach. You can collect Continuing Medical Education credits for time spent using BMJ Best Practice and demonstrate your learning with personalised certificates. Watch this short animation for more details.
BNF and BNFc are both available (without an NHS OpenAthens login) for healthcare practitioners working within the UK public sector on behalf of the National Health Service with NHS patients. Download the apps from your app store for access on the move.
Clinical Knowledge Summaries is geared towards primary care practitioners and provides accessible summaries of the current evidence base and practical guidance on over 370 topics.
Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines is the essential evidence-based prescribing guidelines on the safe and effective prescribing of psychotropic agents.
E-books and journals
You have access to thousands of journals in all areas of health and care, including the BMJ and many other BMJ titles. It’s easy to access articles through the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub and databases for advanced searching. The LibKey Nomad browser plugin will revolutionise your ease of access to journal literature offering you a simple streamlined link wherever you search.
All staff and students in the NHS have access to a collection of 240 Oxford Medicine e-books including:
- Oxford Clinical Guidelines: Newly qualified doctor
- Oxford Handbook for the Foundation Programme
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties
- Oxford Textbook of Medicine
No matter what specialty you’re working in, there’s a handbook, textbook or an “Emergencies in” title to meet your needs.
Kortext is an e-book platform that gives you access to hundreds of books for NHS staff and learners including collections on sustainability, wellbeing and resilience, and equality and diversity. There are lots of books on the Kortext platform for general and specialty interest.
Watch this short film to learn more.
Learning from ‘know how’
Some knowledge is not published but is individual or organisational ‘know how’. The NHS Knowledge Mobilisation Framework is designed to help you develop and use skills to mobilise knowledge effectively.
Health Literacy
Did you know that 43% of adults aged 16-65 struggle with text-based health information and that increases to 61% if the information also includes numbers? What might this mean for your research project? If you want to know more, take this 30 minute e-learning course which includes simple tools that can help increase understanding.
What else can I expect from my library?
Your local NHS knowledge and library service can help you to make the most of these resources. They will often offer additional services including carrying out evidence searches and helping you to keep up-to-date. Visit your library for space to study, work and connect with your peers and the evidence.
How do I find my library?
Go to HLISD to find your local knowledge and library service.
You may also have access to other additional resources through your professional body or a university if you’re currently a student.