Clinical research is a key principal of the NHS, and aims to improve the care for all patients by helping doctors understand how to treat a particular illness which may help you and other patients in the future. It is supported by the National Institute for Health Research.

Knowle House Surgery is proud to be involved in clinical research studies within primary care and to be able to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in these clinical trials, which can be used to test and prove the effectiveness of new treatments and drugs.

Each study is designed to keep risk to a minimum. New drug products are subject to a lot of testing before they are officially launched for use and tests with human participants are one of the later stages in the drug development process. Studies follow rigorous protocols and are reviewed by the ethics committee. This ensures the dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of research participants are protected.

Investment in research means better care for patients and many current treatments will have previously been tested in clinical trials. This is how the NHS improves the country’s health. Clinical research also means patients get access to new treatments before they are widely available and these may be more effective than the current treatments for your condition.

During the clinical study you will receive exclusive time with the Doctor and research staff and receive closer monitoring of your health condition. Regular study appointments and tests, such as blood tests, may be required. Sometimes you will only be asked to complete a questionnaire, but this is also a valuable contribution to the development of future treatments or the understanding of current treatments.

You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a particular research study will involve and participation is purely voluntary. Should you decline the opportunity to participate in a study your relationship with your Doctor or Nurse will not be affected in any way.

Disadvantages

You may receive a placebo instead of the study treatment and there is a chance that the new treatment will be no better, or worse than the standard treatment. However, you will still be helping others and this can be a rewarding experience.

The surgery’s research team might identify you as a potential participant based on your health records. If this is the case one of the research team may contact you by phone to explain the study and invite you to consider participating. Alternatively you may be invited to participate during a routine clinic appointment.

Posters are sometimes placed in the surgery advertising a current clinical trial. The research team will be happy to discuss any on-going trial with you at any time or you could ask the Doctor or Nurse you are seeing to pass on your interest to the research team.

All clinical trial identifiable data is securely stored and all data leaving the surgery is anonymous, therefore patient confidentiality is always maintained.

At Knowle House Surgery we are currently taking part in a number of important research studies. Some of our past and present studies include looking at areas such as:

• Diabetes
• Respiratory/COPD/Asthma
• Flu
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Impetigo
• Cholesterol
• Dementia
• Constipation
• Cardiovascular
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Childhood immunisations
• Depression
• Contraception
• Smoking Cessation
• Erectile Dysfunction

If you are interested in taking part in one of our research studies, please contact the surgery and ask to speak to Sally, our Lead Research Nurse or Lisa, our Research Assistant who will be happy to have a chat with you. Or if you prefer, then please mention to the Dr or Nurse you are seeing that you are interested in research and they will ask Sally or Lisa to speak to you.

To find out what other clinical research studies are running nationally please visit  www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk (national database held by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) which is the research arm of the NHS) or www.nihr.ac.uk

Please have a look at the Research Noticeboard at both Knowle House and Tamerton surgeries. We aim to advertise as many research studies as possible and the board will also keep you up to date with our news.

We will also be adding to the practice Newsletter information regarding current studies.

Knowle House Surgery Research Team

Dr Jonathan Garstang -  Principle Investigator

Dr Simon Macartney Co-Investigator

Sister Sally Whelan - Research Coordinator

HCA Lisa Nicholls - Research Assistant