CPFT helps more people take part in research with record performance
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) is one of the UK’s top three NHS Trusts for volume of mental health research and has nearly doubled participation in studies for 2018/19.
The annual Research Activity League Table published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) this week reveals CPFT’s record contribution, with 20% more studies increasing recruitment by 82% and helping 2,662 people take part - a major advance on 1,461 last year.
CPFT runs hundreds of research studies each year to improve care and treatment for dementias, mental health, mood disorders, physical illnesses like diabetes and respiratory conditions, and has recently expanded the portfolio to include learning disabilities and offer clinical trials for mental health drugs. If you would like to take part and find out more, contact the Windsor Research Unit on 01223 219531 or email wru@cpft.nhs.uk.
Professor Edward Bullmore, director of Research and Development at CPFT (left) said:
“Performance has been outstanding this year - reaching new heights, thanks to the work of all our research teams and volunteers. It’s fantastic that over 1000 more people have been supported to try new therapies and treatments to enhance their care at the Trust.
We will continue to offer more opportunities to take part in groundbreaking research and support staff to run pioneering trials to improve healthcare, working with patients and carers to design studies that meet their needs.”
Tracy Dowling, CPFT’s chief executive said: “Research underpins our services by building the evidence base for care practice and finding more effective and efficient treatments. I’m thrilled that the Trust has beaten last year’s record activity and continues to deliver as one of the UK’s top research active NHS Trusts, with exceptionally talented staff innovating and improving care across all services at CPFT.”
Research can be a rewarding experience and support recovery journeys. The Trust offers routes for patients and the public to shape and design studies, with insight from lived experience. In 2018/19, 48 experts by experience were supported to contribute to 34 research or research-related activities, and the Trust aims to increase these opportunities. To find out more contact Iliana Rokkou, CPFT’s user and carer research and development manager on 01223 465182 or email iliana.rokkou@cpft.nhs.uk.
A CPFT peer support worker shared: “I have found a lot of meaning and purpose through involvement in research. There are many benefits including being part of something bigger, helping others or working with researchers who have their own lived experiences - this is particularly inspiring because they have been through a recovery journey and use their expertise and insight to help shape their own research questions. I’ve also developed my skills as a peer support worker through research projects.”
Find out more about their research experience in the blog Sharing experiences to shape research.
