‘Thank you for helping to save lives’: Thousands take part in clinical research at Hull hospitals
‘We know our research saves lives, enhances quality of life and improves patient care’: Professor Thozhukat Sathyapalan
By Simon Bristow
Patients accessing health services across Hull and East Yorkshire are amongst the most willing to help when it comes to clinical research.
Data published by the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this month shows that 5,465 people agreed to take part in research studies over the last nine months alone - an average of more than 600 people every month.
Professor Thozhukat Sathyapalan, director of RDI and honorary consultant endocrinologist for the trust, is also heavily involved in clinical research through his links with Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull.
He said: “We know that our research saves lives, enhances quality of life and improves patient care. This would not be possible without the support of our staff who help to recruit patients into trials, but also the willingness of our patients to help and to contribute to the future health and wellbeing of others like them.
“The people of Hull and East Yorkshire have always been incredibly generous in this respect and I’d like to express my sincere thanks on behalf of the whole RDI team.”
The trust has around 450 clinical trials and studies ongoing at any one time. These can range from something as simple as completing a survey or food diary to trialling new medications, and take place across the trust’s specialties, including paediatrics, respiratory medicine, diabetes and endocrinology, infectious diseases and cancer care.
One of the trust’s most recent and memorable research programmes was the recruitment of participants to trial the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine against Covid-19.
James Illingworth, RDI manager for the trust, said: “Research really is the future of healthcare. It has the potential to influence future treatments and ultimately save lives, and here in Hull and East Yorkshire, we’re proud to be at the very forefront of that.
“As at the end of the year, we currently rank 4th out of 25 partner organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber for recruitment to the National Institute of Health Research portfolio, having found patients willing to take part in some 127 NIHR studies.
“We’ve also delivered feedback from over 300 participants as part of the annual NIHR Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES), where Hull hospitals continue to see a rise in patient satisfaction year-on-year, and this is testament to the quality of care and support those patients receive.
“We’re continuing to enhance our national and international reputation for research, supported by an increase in funding awards to support our studies, so we really are finishing the year on a high.”
You can find more information on research, development and innovation at Hull hospitals, and see whether you are eligible to take part in a study, here.