RESEARCH IN BARNSLEY

May 2020

Barnsley Hospital’s research

team recruited patients into vital Covid-19 studies some global to help find treatments.

The team was collecting anonymised information on all patients admitted to hospital with a positive test for Covid-19.

The data was being collected worldwide and increased the knowledge base about the virus, aiding strategies to better manage and treat it.

The team also offered Covid-19 patients an opportunity to join a national randomised trial to review which potential treatments, already identified by experts, work best. The team said it was proud to be part of this groundbreaking research, and added it was vital that the Barnsley population is represented in data which is essential for developing knowledge, diagnostics and potential treatments.

There was further research opportunities for local people as studies of potential Covid-19 vaccines were in development.

The team also supported on-going research studies in a variety of disease areas.

Lead Research Nurse Nicola Lancaster said: “Working in research is extremely rewarding.

“Being able to provide patients with opportunities they would not normally have access to and seeing an improvement in their condition is such a special moment”.

“As a research nurse you play a big part in changing future treatments for the better.

“Without research, healthcare would stand still and with a population that is living longer that cannot be allowed. “It is great to see benefits to patients and we see research as the only way forward.”

Barnsley Hospital’s research team was the top recruiter of patients to Covid-19 research studies in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The team recruited 640 patients to four Covid-19 research studies. The studies looked at recovery from the virus such as the impact of different drugs, genetics relating to Covid-19, outcomes of patients leaving emergency care, and tracking data and trends of the virus.

Clinical Director Professor Suzanne Mason said: “We are way ahead of any other Trust in the region and this demonstrates what a wonderful team we have in Barnsley. It is a huge achievement.”