More patients taking part in clinical research than ever before
27 June 2014
THE NUMBER of patients in Sheffield taking part in clinical research has hit an all-time high, according to new figures.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been named as one of several NHS Trusts across the country helping to spearhead a national trend in the development of clinical research, which is vital if the NHS is to continue to provide new and improved treatments for patients.
Published by the National Institute for Health Research’s Clinical Research Network, the league table shows that the Trust increased the number of research studies it ran over from 2012/13 to 2013/14 by 16%, with 7,645 patients taking part. The Trust also came ninth in the country for the number of studies it offered to patients.
Professor Simon Heller, Director of Research and Development for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Medical research plays a vital role in helping us understand how diseases work, improve care for patients and enable us to deliver better and more advanced treatments to the clinic quicker and faster, so we’re delighted that we’re leading the way in helping to initiate and give even more patients opportunities to take part in vital clinical research.”
Liz Aitchison, 62, suffers with Sjogren's syndrome, a disease that causes dry mouth and dry eyes. She says taking part in clinical research at the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital is key if people are to learn more about the disease.
“The staff have been incredibly friendly and supportive, and it’s given me a much greater understanding of the disease. When I was first diagnosed 18 months ago I didn’t know anything about the disease, and I was suffering with constant tiredness, fatigue and joint pain. Anything that gives a greater understanding of the disease can only be a good thing.”
Dr Caroline Pickstone, Chief Operating Officer for the National Institute for Health Research’s Clinical Research Network: Yorkshire and Humber, said: “We’re delighted that more patients than ever before are taking part in clinical research, and I would like to congratulate all Trusts across the region for contributing to a national rise in awareness of the importance of clinical research.
"The Clinical Research Network is supporting more patients than ever before to take part in life-changing research and ensure that new treatments reach the clinic faster by helping researchers to set up studies quickly and more effectively. With an ever-increasing demand for new technologies and innovations and the rising ageing population, this will be pivotal if the NHS is to meet the challenges of the future.”
The clinical research league table is available at: www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/annualstats.
Patients and carers who want to find out more about clinical research can visit: www.nhsresearch.org.
In the last 12 months Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has received National Institute for Health Research funding in areas such dental anxiety, dialysis catheter function and cystic fibrosis research.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudia Blake, Communications Specialist
Tel: 0114 226 5033
Email: claudia.blake@sth.nhs.uk
