Research
‘Unprecedented boost’ for clinical trials will see patients sign up on NHS App, under new Government plan
BHF welcomes plans for millions to take part in research trials under the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
‘Unparallelled access’ to lifesaving clinical trials is coming, as people can browse and sign up using the NIHR Be Part of Research service on the NHS App, the Government has announced.
The acceleration of trials, as part of the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan, could speed up breakthroughs, allowing patients to receive cutting-edge treatments years earlier than planned.
First, patients using the NHS App will be able to search for the trials which best suit their interests and needs.
But eventually it is planned for patients to be matched with studies based on their own health data and interests, so they can be sent push notifications to their phone about new trials they might like to join.
Most ambitious reduction in British history
All NHS Trusts, and organisations such as universities, will need to submit data on the number of trials being conducted and progress being made.
The plan is to deliver the most ambitious reduction in trial set-up times in British history, in order to regain the UK’s clout on the world stage, the Government says.
More than 40 per cent of NHS Trusts paused non-Covid research studies at the start of the pandemic and since then the UK has lagged countries like Spain and Italy in how long it takes to set up a clinical trial.
But simplifying contracts and paperwork is planned to cut the time it takes to set up a trial in the UK from 250 to 150 days or less by March next year.
Alongside making it easier for people to take part in clinical trials, including the hundreds driven and delivered by charities, the 10 Year Health Plan must also ensure that the NHS workforce are adequately supported to engage in clinical research, including by ensuring access to dedicated training and protecting time for research.
Transformational innovation
Commenting on the announcement, Professor Bryan Williams OBE, our chief scientific and medical officer, said:
"We welcome clinical trials being prioritised in the 10 Year Health Plan. Everything we do in healthcare should be grounded in high-quality science and evidence that is representative of the people we treat.
“The best way of achieving that is to ensure NHS patients are included in these trials. It's also important that we translate our learnings into tangible results for patients.
“Cardiovascular disease is amongst the best examples of how research-led innovation has transformed public health and patient outcomes - we need to see more of this in the health service."