Health Trust comes top of the national league table

A WARRINGTON-based health trust has topped the national league table for increase in research.
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust achieved the highest per centage increase in the number of research studies recruited to – an increase of 250 per cent.
As a result, the Trust offered hundreds of patients the opportunity to help develop and benefit from new treatments.
Bridgewater has its headquarters in Warrington and serves communities across Warrington, Halton, St Helens and parts of Greater Manchester.
It has been recognised by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) – the Department for Health and Social Care’s research hub.
Dr. Rachel Hall, head of research at Bridgewater, said: “This is a huge feather in the cap for Bridgewater.
“We are developing a reputation as a Trust that is engaged in high level, innovative research. The NIHR funds cutting edge innovative research, so it’s especially satisfying to have our achievement recognised by them.
“In a sense, our strength is our diversity – we offer a broad range of community-based services and cover a significant geographic footprint, which means that we have the potential to support a wide variety of research studies.”
The league table figures show that of all NHS Trusts in England, Bridgewater achieved the highest per centage increase in the number of studies recruited to, going from two in 2017/18 to seven in 2018/19 – an increase of 250 per cent. Additionally, the Trust also achieved the third highest per centage increase in recruitment by a trust in England, going from 34 in 2017/18 to 247 in 2018/19 – an increase of 626 per cent.
The trust is currently involved in research studies that include work around stroke rehabilitation, aimed at getting people back to work within 12 months of stroke. This is an unusual research study in that it is being led by occupational therapists. Additionally, the Trust is engaged in groundbreaking research with Warrington Sexual Health around Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, the drug aimed at preventing HIV infections.
Dr Hall added: “I think the recognition from the NIHR is a great accolade for our research supportive clinicians – as it’s usually something that’s above and beyond their day jobs.
“This demonstrates a passion for what we do and a commitment to values that shape how we deliver NHS services in our local communities – we’re person-centred, we encourage innovation, we’re open and honest, we’re professional, locally led and efficient.”
Picture: Dr Rachel Hall and (right) research nurse Linda Ollerton.