Research and Innovation
Winter 2018
ventilatory support requirements and increased mortality in high risk groups. High risk groups have previously been identified as those over the age of 60, people with respiratory and cardiac problems and those with more than six rib fractures.
Collaborating with King’s College, London, The Emergency Department at Stoke Mandeville Hospital has been selected as one of the Trauma Units from the Thames Valley network to participate in the RIOS trial. The aim of this study is to examine the health related quality of life in patients who have had a blunt thoracic trauma for six-months after discharge. Patients are asked to complete health related quality of life questionnaires, pain questionnaires and complete an interview about the experience. Blunt Thoracic Injury (BTI), involving multiple rib fractures, is common in both Major Trauma Centres and Emergency departments throughout the UK. BTI is characterised by injury that does not involve opening of the chest wall and therefore severity of injury can vary from minor bruising to significant injury that compromises the rib cage structure. BTI accounts for more than 15% (approximately 5,550 patients) of UK trauma admissions and is consistently associated with high levels of respiratory related complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, and pulmonary embolism.
The aim of this study is to explore and investigate the recovery of patients with rib fractures after blunt chest trauma. The results will add to our knowledge of the recovery process after rib fractures and inform the management guidance for future patients with similar injuries. The results will be used to improve the treatments available.
Further information contact the team below: Principal Investigator: Dr Abhishek Banerji Research Nurse: Katarina Manso Email: katarina.manso@nhs.net Telephone: 01296 315832
BTI is painful and debilitating but it remains unknown what proportions of the population report chronic pain after rehabilitation from injury. In a recent UK study, early complications resulted in increased length of hospital stay, increased avoidable admissions to intensive care, increased
CEO Award for Leadership Winner – Denise Watson Denise Watson leads our Research and Innovation team (R & I), and was recently acknowledged as being an inspirational Leader at our Trust Staff awards ceremony, where she received the 2018 CEO Award for Leadership. The research team has undergone some restructuring to provide an integrated way of working across the Trust, which has proved successful for both practitioners and patients. The R and I team, were also found to be the happiest and most positively engaged team in the entire BHT Trust according to our most recent staff survey, which was recognised as a ‘phenomenal achievement in such a demanding environment and when compared to 101 other teams.’ Denise enjoys planning future projects and is currently working with universities to build joint R&I strategies to increase opportunities for R&I countywide. This will provide more opportunities for patients and the wider public to be involved in research and participate in trials of new treatments and medications. For further information about research opportunities at Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust please contact the Research and Innovation Department at Stoke Mandeville hospital on 01296 316065 or see the website at www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/research You can also follow us on facebook or Twitter @BHTResearch
This study is looking at children who are having surgery for a nail bed injury. They will need this operation whether they are part of the study or not. What is NINJA? NINJA participants will be randomised to either have the fingernail put back or discarded following repair of the nailbed injury. They will be followed up for 4 months at routine clinic appointments (typically between 7-10 days post operation) and via postal and web based questionnaires after 4 months. Why NINJA? The nail bed is the soft area beneath the hard fingernail. Injuries to it are the commonest hand injury in children. They are typically caused by the child crushing their fingers in a door. Over 10,000 children undergo surgery to repair the cut in the nail bed every year in the UK. During surgery, the nail is taken off and the cut stitched up. The nail can either be put back on, or thrown away. Some doctors think that the replaced nail acts like a barrier against infection. Others think that it may cause them. Infections may mean the new nail grows abnormally, with a need for extra GP and hospital visits. Work with parents and children tell us they value most the cosmetic appearance after surgery which could be also affected. The two options will be assessed in the study called a randomised controlled trial. It will enable a fair and reliable comparison of the two options. We will look at impact of the two options on cosmetic appearance, occurrence of infection, pain, & subsequent healthcare use.
Patient Research Ambassador Retired medical researcher, Bethan Peach is joining the PRA team as a volunteer to help promote NHS health research from a patient’s point of view. Bethan said, “Engaging patients in clinical research can provide the NHS with a most powerful resource, and enables the patients themselves to help direct future health decisions.”
TriMaster – A New Diabetes study Are You Aged 30 – 80 And Taking 1 Or 2 Different Tablets To Treat Your Diabetes? If you can answer YES to the questions above, you may be able help us with this new research project: Call Diabetes research 01494 425750 for more info.
*NEW* Mesothelioma study This new respiratory study, led by Oxford Brookes University, is exploring patient’s views and experiences of the follow-up care pathways. The aim is to to identify recommendations for change to a more patient focused service. Most prevalent in UK & USA, the condition remains a global health concern because of previously unregulated asbestos use. Email: katarina.manso@nhs.net Call: 01296315832
Cleopatra - Ophthalmology study results have been published Thank you to all our fantastic patients who contributed their time and sleep information to this study. The results are available at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS 2213-8587(18)30036-6/fulltext
Itchy feet? Interested in finding out about a research career with BHT? Miss Rebecca Shirley with the plastics team at Stoke Mandeville hospital
For information email katarina.manso@nhs.net or call 01296 315832
NINJA website: https://ninja.octru.ox.ac.uk/
To find out more about what’s involved in working in research as a nurse or clinical research practitioner contact Nicola Higgins on 01296418124 or email nicola.higgins5@nhs.net. We’re happy to arrange a session of work shadowing experience with our teams across the trust.
HSC Bucks Innovation Centre Have you got an innovative idea to tackle a health or social care challenge? Apply for support through Bucks HSC Ventures, a new health and social care accelerator programme. Successful applicants will get access to health and social care providers, workshops, masterclasses, funding advice and prototyping facilities. To find out more or to apply to www.hscventures.co.uk The free programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is a collaboration between Buckinghamshire New University, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Oxford Academic Health Science Network, Buckinghamshire County Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group.
Our new Research Team Members We asked what they are enjoying about their new roles and how research benefits their patients? This is what they said …
Danielle Thornton & Lisa Frankland, Maternity
Libby McKerrow, ICU
Penny Carter, CCHU
Proud to be part of BHT’s most engaged work team 2018
NSIC Therapy Innovation Role Spinal Cord Injuries, NSIC, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Kirsten and Ruth have over 50 years’ compiled experience in the care and rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Ruth’s specialist knowledge and experience covers the treatment and management of the upper limb, oedema and employment. Kirsten specialises in the unique needs of the child and young person growing with SCI and orthotics. Both have experience and a keen interest in rehabilitation technology and activity base restorative therapy. Their wide spread experience of all types of SCI crossing all ages and stages of injury and care is complemented further by their contrasting therapy roles as well as masters level training; Ruth completing her Masters in Design research for Disability in 2000 and Kirsten completing her Masters in Research and Evaluation 2001. This experience was perfectly placed for their roles to be transferred to innovation at the NSIC in 2016. Ruth and Kirsten remain clinically invested in the care of patients at the NSIC but 50% of each role now is directed to ‘innovation’; investigating new ways of working/new technologies to shorten the adoption time for new technologies to reach the NHS. Current projects include secured funding for the creation of
Ged Hambrook, ICU
a new clinical area within the NSIC exclusively for the advancement and treatment of the SCI upper limb – this is due to be completed in 2019. Other collaborations have led to the investment of state of the art rehabilitation technologies on St Francis ward, for the care of SCI children and young people. They are both ideally placed to suggest and direct what future clinical research is needed to establish best practice in this field and accordingly form part of the NSIC research and innovation group.
Kirsten Hart MSc MCSP, Ruth Peachment MA Clinical Specialist SROT, Occupational Physiotherapist Therapy Clinical Specialist
We need your help to uncover the causes of disease flare in IBD
The dietary, microbial and other factor analyses at the start will be compared in those patients who flare and those who do not.
We are recruiting patients with established Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in clinical remission.
We are collecting DNA and stool samples, as well as detailed lifestyle and dietary information. ​
For more information: Contact Ruth Penn on 01494 426588, email ruth.penn@nhs.net You can also visit the study website at www.predicct.co.uk and register your interest there.