CHFT patients are currently involved in over 100 research studies – and our aim is to become an even bigger participant in this field.

 

Our Research and Development Lead Asifa Ali told Trust Board that the more research undertaken the better outcomes we can expect for patients. She said: “Organisations which are research-active have better outcomes for all patients and not just those participating in research.”

 

The majority of our trials are for cancer patients and there are others in Paediatrics, Stroke, Ophthalmology, Respiratory and Women’s Health. But we have gaps in areas including Diabetes, Rheumatology and Critical Care.

 

Asifa said it was a challenge to expand our involvement in trials due to the time involved on top of clinical work for colleagues but we are aiming to recruit Research Champions to promote the activity, along with our Professor of Nursing who is working collaboratively with academia to build the Trusts research grant success.

 

The trials are a “never closing” circle as they are constantly changing midway to reflect advances in medicine which can have a direct impact to clinical care.

 

Wendy Cook, Clinical Lead Research Nurse Manager showed how the Trust compared to other regional Trusts and the challenges in achieving Trust targets for recruitment for continued research funding and growth. The Trust has over 40 researchers across the organisation. Wendy highlighted the research support team who work diligently at supporting researchers across the Trust.

 

William, aged 66, on a national STAMPEDE trial for patients with advanced prostate cancer, told how the trial gave him hope for his own life-length and that the results would give hope to his sons and grandsons and later generations if needed in years to come.

 

He said he had suffered very few side effects and the trial matched his personality as he wanted to be active and playing a role for the future despite his cancer.

 

He praised his care at the Trust including the fact his consultant called him into his appointments herself and said it was important for the trials to be available locally to encourage more people to take part.

 

His Consultant Oncologist Dr Uschi Hoffman, said as a result of trials, care with chemotherapy was the pathway now offered due to its success at prolonging life.  This is a recent development within the past three months. She said the trials had added a full year onto patients’ lives and to be able to say this to patients when discussing them becoming potentially involved was extremely valuable and would not be possible if we did not participate in this study and others.

 

The Board was asked for its continued support for the implementation of the Trusts R&D Strategy.

 **CEO Owen Williams said as part of the clinical excellence standard the role of research and development – one of the areas assessed – should be given more prominence at CHFT.

For more information about research in the Trust contact Trust R&D Department 01484 343396 email r&d@cht.nhs.uk

 

Asifa is also encouraging participation in the Yorkshire Health study: …can you help the CHFT research team reach a target of 400 participants in March?

 

The Yorkshire Health Study is now OPEN for CHFT Staff to participate and it asks ‘How Yorkshire fit are you?’ If you are aged 16 – 85 and live in the Yorkshire and Humber region, then join the Yorkshire Health Study and find out!

 

Using a calculator developed by The University of Sheffield, you can compare your health to the average Yorkshire man or woman.  The study aims to recruit 100,000 people from within the region by asking them to fill in a short online health questionnaire. With questions about health habits (drinking, smoking, exercise etc), your answers will be compared across the Yorkshire region.

 

Only during March CHFT staff will be able to participate in the study which they can do on-line (see link below) or stop at one of our research stands throughout March, our research team will be visiting offices and setting up stands across HRI, CRH and Community Health Centres to encourage staff to take part.

 

The Trusts research team is competing with 3 other Trusts taking part, and WE NEED TO WIN! Every completed questionnaire gets us closer to our target.

 

To complete the on-line questionnaire please follow this link:

https://www.yorkshirehealthquestionnaire.org/  - Link to fill in questionnaire

 

This study is part funded by the National Institute of Health Research, Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care, Yorkshire and Humber (NIHR CLAHRC YH) www.clahrc-yh.nihr.ac.uk 

For more information contact Trust R&D Office HRI 343396 or email r&d@cht.nhs.uk