Inspirational campaign highlights how research improves care

SHEFFIELD Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is backing a national campaign highlighting the ways clinical research can have a positive impact on people's lives.

Research Changed My Life uses the inspirational experiences of people who have been involved in research to raise awareness of how clinical research can benefit patients, their families or carers.

Through a collection of film, video-diary and audio stories, the campaign highlights benefits that include: improved health; increased understanding of the health condition; more focused care; a sense of altruism; the opportunity to shape future treatments and a new stimulus for people's lives.

Enid's story
Enid Hirst, 75, of Millhouses, Sheffield, felt compelled to give something back to medical research after witnessing family and friends receive life-saving care at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital. This included her husband Stan, now 78, who had two stents fitted into his arteries to clear a potentially life-threatening blockage in his heart. Another friend was airlifted to A&E by the air ambulance after collapsing while out walking on the Peak District moors and needed bypass surgery.

Enid Hurst, who trained as a teacher and also worked in a pharmacy, said: "I've always been interested in meeting people and helping them out. When I worked in the pharmacy, I came into contact with lots of people needing medical support and advice, including mums, babies and elderly people.

"I've been actively involved in research since I retired and I've been privileged to meet with a lot of patients, especially those being care for in A&E. One time I was looking at how primary angioplasty services might be delivered on a 24/7 basis, which is when surgeons clear blockages in the artery. By sheer coincidence my husband was admitted to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital with the same problem, and was transferred to the Northern General Hospital needing stents to be inserted into his arteries. Thanks to the influence of clinical research, these services are now available 24/7 in Sheffield, which shows how research can help improve NHS services for others too."

Raising awareness
Professor Simon Heller, director of research and development at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Advances in medicine and care simply would not be possible without the active role of research volunteers, so I'm delighted to be supporting this national campaign raising awareness of how research can help patients understand their condition better, give them confidence or give them control in a difficult personal situation."

Find out more
If you would like to find out more about getting involved in clinical research at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust email getinvolved@sth.nhs.uk or call 0114 226 5935.

To find out more about Enid's story and how research has changed many other people's lives, click here or text RCML to 07717 99 00 00 (standard network rate applies)