THE door is open for patients in Redditch and surrounding areas to take part in clinical trials.
The offer comes after more than 100 health professionals from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire attended a special event at Sixways Stadium in Worcester to celebrate the achievements of clinical trials and research in the two counties.
The event showcased the best of the clinical research in the last year, with awards handed out for some of the most impressive schemes to help benefit patients.
Clinical trials and research aim to build evidence for new approaches to improve patient care.
This is done by testing the effectiveness of new medication, diagnostics, and treatment plans to determine whether new treatments in development are better than what is currently available to patients.
In our region, clinical research is carried out by the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Research Consortium, based at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
The team is made up of consultants, specialist nurses and midwives as well as support staff.
So far this year, the group has recruited more than 1,100 patients into more than 80 different research trials.
These have involved everything from filling in questionnaires or providing blood samples to attending an educational programme or trying new types of medicines.
Dr David Wilson, consultant cardiologist, said: “We wanted to hold this event to celebrate the hard work and commitment of all staff involved in research.
“I believe that the potential for clinical research in our area is enormous, and I am optimistic about how this will evolve, and the benefits that this will undoubtedly bring to our patients.”
To take part in a clinical trial, ask your doctor, nurse or midwife if there is a clinical trial you could join.
To find out more about medical research and development in Worcestershire visit www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/R&D.
