Published on: 15 May 2019
The exciting developments in research which are giving patients in South Tyneside and Sunderland the opportunity to receive the very latest treatments will be highlighted at special events marking International Clinical Trials Day, which is on May 20th.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s research team will begin the celebrations on Friday, May 17th, with stands from 10am to 3pm at Asda in South Shields and Boldon, Tesco in Newcastle Road, Sunderland, and The Bridges in Sunderland. There will also be research awareness stalls in South Tyneside District Hospital’s main entrance area on Tuesday, May 21st, from 10.30am to noon, and at Sunderland Royal Hospital in the Kayll Road main concourse and Outpatients in Chester Wing on Friday, May 24th, from 1pm to 5pm. Patient research ambassadors will be at many of the locations to share their personal experiences of taking part in research.
There is clear evidence that research-active organisations deliver better clinical outcomes for their patients and the Trust’s new Research and Innovation Strategy 2019-2024 demonstrates its commitment to improving patients’ health and experience through high quality research and innovation.
The strategy sets out four main aims:
- To put patients and the public at the heart of research and innovation
- To deliver accessible, high quality, practice-changing research and innovation
- To develop research and innovation by building local, national and international partnerships
- To develop a workforce where research and innovation are embedded in everything the Trust does
Melanie Johnson, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals and executive lead for Research and Innovation for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our activities around International Clinical Trials Day are an excellent opportunity for us to go out and meet local people and talk to them about possible involvement in research which can bring hope to participants and enable them to help researchers find better treatments for patients in the future.
“Continuous improvement through research and innovation is a core value for our Trust. I am very proud that we have been able to develop an enviable reputation - locally, nationally and internationally - for award-winning, ground-breaking research and I know that staff are passionate about using their fantastic range of skills and knowledge to contribute further in this important field for the benefit of patients, clinicians and the NHS.”
The most recent research-linked award for the Trust was for the Ophthalmology research team at Sunderland Eye Infirmary who were presented with global biopharmaceutical solutions organisation Syneos Health’s Site Appreciation Award. This award recognises the value of clinical research sites as partners in the clinical research process. Currently, the team is involved in several clinical trials on common vision-threatening eye conditions including Age-related Macular Degeneration and diabetic eye disease, both leading causes of blindness - the former in the ageing population and the latter among people of working age.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s research team works in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria (NIHR CRN NENC). The Trust is supporting the NIHR’s new ‘Be Part of Research’ campaign, which is being launched to mark International Clinical Trials Day. The campaign aims to encourage patients, carers and the public to get involved in research and will coincide with the launch of the new Be Part of Research website www.bepartofresearch.co.uk (formerly UK Clinical Trials Gateway), which will allow users to search for opportunities to participate in research.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s research team will have stands to mark International Clinical Trials Day as follows:
- Friday, May 17th, 10am to 3pm, Asda in South Shields and Boldon, Tesco in Newcastle Road, Sunderland, and The Bridges in Sunderland
- Tuesday, May 21st, 10.30am to noon, South Tyneside District Hospital’s main entrance area
- Friday, May 24th, 1pm to 5pm, Sunderland Royal Hospital in the Kayll Road main concourse and Outpatients in Chester Wing
International Clinical Trials Day is held each year on May 20th to commemorate Scottish naval surgeon James Lind beginning the first clinical trial in 1747 in which he identified the effectiveness of citrus fruits in treating scurvy.
