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| Left to right: Jo Turnbull, Nick Land, Hilary Allan and Kath Richardson |
The award, which was sponsored by the National Institute for Health Research, Clinical Research Network, was presented to the Trust at an event on London's Park Lane last night (15 November), in the presence of 1,000 experts from the healthcare field.
Dr Jonathan Sheffield, chief executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, who gave the award, explained:
"Time and again patients tell us that they want the NHS to carry out research, because it is important that we keep improving the treatments we offer. That's why we created this very first award for "Research Culture" - so we could highlight the vital role that research plays in developing better patient care. The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust has shown that even in the complex field of mental health, patients can benefit from the chance to take part in high quality clinical studies, and it is particularly heartening to see how they have given patients themselves a say in forming the research programme. They are worthy winners of this important award."
In its winning entry, TEWV demonstrated how it has expanded its clinical research activity from just three studies two years ago, to thirty large-scale studies today. Now a growing group of clinicians are involved in research, and more than 400 patients are volunteering to take part in a wide range of carefully-monitored research activities, covering areas such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), addictions and forensic mental health.
Jo Turnbull, chair of TEWV, who was one of the team that collected the award on the night, is delighted with the recognition for the Trust's work. She said:
"It's great to receive this award. We’re not a big medical school, but we have some really enthusiastic people who are doing fantastic work, and this award recognises what the team has achieved. In these days when we are all focused on the need to make cost savings, some people might be tempted to push research to the side. But I am a big advocate for research. Research is the future.”
Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, has also sent her congratulations to TEWV. Commenting on the award, she said:
"Clinical research is not just for the large teaching hospitals - it is absolutely core business for all NHS Trusts. A recent MORI poll showed that seventy two per cent of people would want to be offered the chance to take part in a clinical trial if they had a health condition that was affecting their daily life, so we need more Trusts to follow TEWV's example, and look at how they too can increase the opportunities for patients to take part in research."
