Clinical Research at Lyndhurst Medical Centre
Lyndhurst Medical Centre is a ‘research active’ GP Practice. This means we support and facilitate clinical research at the Practice. Clinical research is vital to better understand medical conditions, develop new treatments, interventions and medicines and contributes to more cost-effective and better-quality health care.
Our research activity is supported by National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) which is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. NIHR works in partnership with NHS organisations, universities, charities and other research organisations to involve patients from community settings like their GP Practice with clinical research. This allows us to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in ethical and safety approved research studies that might be of interest to them.
Our involvement might include:
· Identifying suitable groups of people from our patient list for invitation to clinical trials run by an external approved researcher.
· Inviting patients to complete questionnaires or surveys.
· Lyndhurst Medical Centre itself serving as a research location for a clinical trial of a new medication, treatment or healthcare approach.
We will post information about the studies we are currently involved with in our waiting rooms.
What this means for our patients at Lyndhurst Medical Centre
Patients may at times receive invitations to find out more about research studies that the Practice has agreed to support which relate to their personal health profile.
· It is always your choice to decide if you would like to take part in any research study.
· Your decision to be involved or not will not affect the quality of care that your GP Practice team provides for you or your relationship with the Surgery.
· You have the right to decline to be involved at any stage (including if you change your mind after you have joined a research study).
If you do decide to get involved with a research study you will have the process explained, be given the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered, be given time to make a decision about participation and be supported by the research team at each stage of your involvement.
If you would prefer not to receive invitations to participate in research studies from the GP
please speak to a member of the Reception Team or email lyndhurst.surgery@nhs.net. This will then be recorded in your electronic patient record to remove you from future research searches and invitations.
Please note- being invited to find out more about research studies that we are supporting is different to the NHS using data from your health records for research and health planning (see https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/opt-out-of-sharing-your-health-records/).
If you have chosen to opt out of data sharing via the National data opt-out you will still receive invitations to consider if you wish to participate in research studies, unless you also ask us to remove you from future research searches and invitations.
What are the benefits to our patients of involvement with research?
Evidence shows that patients treated in research-active settings often experience better health outcomes. Research leads to better treatments and services and improves our understanding of health conditions and the needs of patients. Involvement with research can make clinicians more aware of new clinical information and guidance.
Most patients who take part in research report having a positive experience. They contribute to the development of new treatments and medicines that benefit patients now and in the future.
Good Clinical Practice in Research
Our team follow the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) research principles in line with the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research (2017). This regulates and ensures that research is conducted ethically, safely, and to a high standard. The first concern is the wellbeing of the patients who get involved.
Clinicians involved in any research work with you will be GCP trained and will also have received further specific training relating to the individual trial itself.
Ways to get involved if you are interested
· You may see a poster or a link on our website and choose to find out more by contacting the research team.
· You may receive a text, email or letter from the Practice informing you of a study you may be interested in if it matches your health profile.
· You may be invited to consider involvement in a study by a member of our clinical team.
· You can also search for any trials you might be interested in via:
o The NIHR Be Part of Research initiative
o NHS/NIHR Join Dementia Research
In all these situations you are under no obligation to get involved if you do not wish to. The Practice will never share identifiable information about you without your formal consent.
Find out more
You can read more about the NIHR and involvement with clinical research here.
What is Health and Care Research https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/what-is-health-and-care-research/
Be Part of Research https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/take-part-in-research/