Search

At Nottinghamshire Healthcare, we promote research to improve our services to provide the best for our patients and service users.

We are committed to offering patients the opportunity to get involved in research. We aim to ensure that patient and public involvement in our research adds value and impacts on what we do for the benefit of our patients.

Research tells us that where services are actively engaged in research, morale is higher and patients have better health outcomes. We seek to engage more and more of our staff in research, with year on year increases in the numbers of patients actively involved in research that is relevant to them.

Many patients voluntarily take part in research as participants. Participants often have the health condition that the research study aims to help, but you can also sometimes be recruited as a healthy volunteer.

Taking part in research doesn't always involve trying new medication. Some projects may simply involve completing a questionnaire or a short interview, completing an assessment or possibly providing a blood or urine sample.

You can look for research studies yourself, by asking your doctor or a patient organisation, or by looking on the internet (such as on the UK Clinical Trials Gateway – see link below or on the East Midlands Clinical Research Network, ‘Find a Clinical Research Study' app). Alternatively, you may be approached to take part in research. Don't be afraid to ask questions. 

Research studies often have what is referred to as an eligibility criteria, which are a set of guidelines for the target participants in the study. These criteria often include the medical condition, the medical history of the patients, their age or their gender. This means that sometimes, even if you are interested in participating in a project, you may not be eligible this time. 

If you are interested in participating in research projects, please speak to your doctor or member of the clinical team about any projects that you may be potentially suitable for.
 

Useful links

The following websites contain useful information about research in the NHS for patients and service users:

The Institute of Mental Health – The Institute of Mental Health is a collaboration between the University of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. There are many features of the organisation that are suitable for service users to participate in, specifically the Managed Innovation Networks which are designed to bring together researchers, clinicians and service-users to improve services through the use of the latest knowledge.

INVOLVE – INVOLVE is a programme funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) to support public involvement in NHS, Public Health and Social Care Research.

UK Clinical Trials Gateway – The UK Clinical Trials Gateway is a website that provides information on clinical trials within the UK. It is designed to help you and your clinician locate and contact clinical trials that may be suitable to you. 

The Academic Health Science Network: East Midlands – This network helps to bring patients, carers and communities together with health and social care providers, industry and research to make real differences to health in the East Midlands. 

East Midlands Clinical Research Network – The National Institute of Healthcare Research Clinical Research Network is the clinical research delivery aim of the NHS. 

East Midland Clinical Research Network – ‘Find a Clinical Research Study' App -  This database allows you to search for studies currently open within your area. You can use your postcode, search by hospital or GP Practice or by medical condition.