BOURNEMOUTH and Poole NHS Hospital Trusts have been praised for their clinical research, following the publication of a new league table by the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network.

The two hospitals are spearheading a new trend for more research to help improve treatment for patients.

According to the NIHR, patients fare better in hospitals and surgeries where clinical research is carried out – even if they don’t actually take part in a study themselves.

The new table shows the number of studies undertaken by each NHS Trust from April, 2013 to March, 2014, and the number of patients who volunteered to take part in clinical research. Over half of the NHS Trusts across the country increased the number of clinical research studies.

Jonathan Sheffield, chief executive officer of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, said: “It’s great to see a real appetite for research in Bournemouth and Poole.

“I would like to thank all the patients and carers who have taken part in research, and thereby made a contribution to improving NHS treatments for everyone.”

Increase in studies

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust increased its number of studies from 101 in 2012/13 to 117 in 2013/14.

Poole Hospital increased its number of studies from 83 in 2012/13 to 91 in 2013/14.

The clinical research league table is available at crn.nihr.ac.uk/annualstats