PIONEERING clinical trials led by nurses are taking place at Poole Hospital, putting it among the first in the country to offer such treatment.

Patients with prostate cancer are taking part in the trials led by specialist trained research nurses who run their own clinics offering patient-focused treatments that may not be available during standard treatment.

Clinical trials can offer the best way to compare different approaches to health problems and there are currently two prostate cancer nurse-led clinical trials being carried out at the hospital.

The aim is to find out which is the best way to use hormone treatment in men having radiotherapy after surgery for prostate cancer and the effect of combining newer treatments with standard hormone treatment.

This innovative approach has received national and international acclaim and senior research nurse for oncology at Poole Hospital, Roger Wheelwright, lead for the oncology clinical trials, will be speaking at conferences in Liverpool, Birmingham and Turkey. He has also been appointed to the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Prostate Clinical Studies Group with leaders in the field of prostate cancer research.

Roger said the appointment meant they could help implement and support future prostate clinical trials.

“The introduction of nurse-led research clinics has been well received by patients at the hospital. The clinics further ensure that patients are fully supported throughout their care and that their experience at Poole Hospital remains a positive one,” he said.

Melvin Hull, a patient currently involved in a clinical trial, said: “The benefits for me are having regular contact with someone who is always there, not just to do the medical stuff such as blood pressure but also to answer any questions I have.”

He added: “I just thought I would take the medicine and that would be it. I had no idea of the understanding and care I would receive on a regular basis for someone who shows me that they are there for me, either via hospital visits or anytime via a phone call.”