University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has emerged as the leading NHS organisation in the United Kingdom for recruiting patients into clinical trials.
The latest National Institute for Health and Care Research rankings place the trust, which runs Derriford Hospital, at the top of the table. More than 45,000 patients at the hospital are currently enrolled in such studies. The figure represents a 35 percent increase on the previous year.
Derriford is the largest hospital in south-west England. More than 200 studies are under way there, spanning Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, strokes, intensive care and neonatal conditions.
Participation in clinical trials gives patients earlier access to new treatments that would otherwise remain unavailable. High volumes of research activity within a hospital are also associated with improved overall standards of patient care.
Direct benefits for patients in Devon
Professor Dan Martin, consultant in intensive care medicine at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said the outcomes are tangible.
We know in any institution which is delivering a high volume of research, overall the care becomes better for patients. And then there is the actual interventions themselves. Many of these will be lifesaving. The people receiving those treatments could arguably get a better or a more improved intervention sooner than would otherwise be available to them – and all here in Devon.
The achievement underscores the value of rigorous, evidence-based medical science when institutions maintain clear focus on delivery and patient outcomes. Strong local infrastructure and clinician engagement have enabled this level of recruitment without reliance on ideological prescriptions or blanket calls for higher spending.
