Wessex recruits over 45,000 participants to take part in research
45,287 participants took part in research in Wessex last year
More people than ever took part in research right on their doorstep last year, according to new data released today.
They took part in studies that are supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), a Department of Health and Social Care-funded organisation that funds and supports the delivery of health and care research trials.
Studies took place in a variety of settings including hospitals, community venues such as GP practices and from home via studies managed online.
Figures for studies in Wessex in the 12 months from 1 April 2023:
- 45,287 people recruited into studies across 270 different sites
- 720 studies took place across 270 individual sites
1 in 4 people who participated in research in England in 2023-24 were recruited via primary care, including GP practices and care homes, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The data relates to the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) portfolio studies. It shows that almost 60% of all GP practices (3,606) in England took part in CRN-supported research in 2023-24. This is a 12 percentage point increase compared to the previous year.
A total of 270,538 participants recruited to research from across the entire country came via primary care - 26% of the total number of participants recruited to research in England in 2023-24.
Care homes also played an active part in research. Last year 11% of care homes in England (210) took part in research that will improve adult social care, including studies on isolation for residents with sight loss.
This means more people than ever had the opportunity to take part in research and access new treatments and healthcare practices right on their doorstep.
Daniel Hammersley, Chief Operating Officer at Cripps Health Centre in Nottingham, which has been taking part in health research for the past 15 years, said:
“There is a lot to be gained by recruiting patients via GP practices to clinical trials. It means the volunteers are known to the staff leading the study and the volunteers already have a level of trust with the practice.
“The practices are quickly able to screen out those who are eligible or ineligible for a trial and they maintain that positive relationship. It also means patients can have treatments that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access.”
Participation figures continue to exceed pre-pandemic levels
Over the last year, a total of 1,045,282 participants across England took part in health and care research. This is the fourth year in a row that around a million participants have been involved in research supported by the NIHR CRN.
Over the past 10 years, over 590,000 participants have taken part in CRN-supported research. They got involved in research for a number of conditions including depression, cancer and dementia.
The CRN has helped recruit more than 5.4m participants during the past 5 years.
Executive Director of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), John Sitzia, said:
“Our annual data shows health and care research is becoming more embedded in communities. This enables people from a variety of backgrounds to get involved and ensures everyone can access new treatments and healthcare practices through participation in research.
“Whether it’s taking part in a drug trial at a local hospital or completing an online survey, every contribution helps improve health and wellbeing in the UK and beyond. So we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part in a health and care study last year. I hope that everyone who participated feels a sense of pride for their contribution.”
Everyone can take part in research, whether they have a health condition or not. Be Part of Research Service helps people to easily find and take part in studies across the UK.
Find a study or register to take part in research in Wessex at: www.bepartofresearch.uk.
