I started ATTRACT in 1997 while working for Gwent Health Authority. The idea was simple: GPs could send in clinical questions, and I would try to find and summarise the best available evidence. It did really well and, a few years later, expanded to cover all of Wales. While clearing out my filing cabinet recently, I found some old ATTRACT leaflets – a small reminder of where it all began.

I’m not sure we got many questions via the yellow bag system (internal NHS Wales post system) but we got lots by fax. I also remember answering a question while on the phone with the GP!

And, a another reminder, ATTRACT was the reason I started the Trip Database in the first place (to speed up the question answering process)….!

Nearly 30 years later, the basic idea has not changed: clinicians have questions, and they need fast, reliable access to the best available evidence. ATTRACT led to Trip. Trip has now led to AskTrip. Different tools, same mission.