Could you help Harlow hospital’s quest to discover new treatments? Find out at the Harvey Centre – 17 May

CLINICAL research is crucial for discovering better treatments to help future generations of patients, and you can find out how important it is at Harlow’s Harvey Centre next week.

It is known that patients are more likely to have better outcomes in hospitals that are actively involved in research.

Did you know that Harlow’s local hospital has a very successful research department? The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust had up to 80 clinical trials taking place during the last financial year. These ranged from studies looking at hormone therapy in treating prostate cancer and studies testing new drugs for treating psoriatic-arthritis, to observational studies monitoring the development and progression of Type 1 diabetes.

Against a recruitment target of research participants – which was set at 269 to reflect the hospital’s size – the trust recruited over 730 participants to research studies in the last financial year; a tremendous achievement which brings new innovative treatment to you and your family.

But there is always a need for more. Come and speak to our research team to find out how you can help make a difference.

The hospital’s research team will be at the stand opposite Superdrug from 9am to 4.30pm on Thursday 17 May – for their annual International Clinical Trials Day. They will be on hand to give information – and there will be a give-away to take home.

Nikki Staines, Lead Research Nurse, said: “Come and speak to our research team to find out how your local hospital is carrying out research to improve healthcare, and see how you could help. This means that if you are interested in participating in a research study and you meet the relevant study criteria, you could help the NHS further improve our healthcare for you, your friends and family.

“International Clinical Trials Day is a celebration of research in the NHS, and a chance to promote better understanding of the research agenda. Come and join our research team in the Harvey Centre to find out what research is active in your local hospital right now and the difference this makes to you and your relatives.”