Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top Trusts leading the way in providing opportunities for patients to take part in clinical research studies.

A league table published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network, details the number of studies undertaken by each individual Trust, and the number of patients they recruit into those studies. For the first time this year the table also categorises NHS Trusts into organisations with similar characteristics, which allows comparisons to be made between Trusts in similar circumstances. The Trust currently features in second place in the Mental Health Trusts category; conducting 42 studies, an increase of seven studies on last year’s figure.

Dr Jonathan Sheffield is Chief Executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, which provides specialist research nurses and resources to enable NHS Trusts to deliver clinical research opportunities for patients. Praising the achievement of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, he said:

“This is marvellous news and illustrates that our partners at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust are truly placing research at the core of NHS business. We know from recent polls that patients want to see the NHS do research, and they want the chance to get involved. This Trust’s recruitment of 2,260 patients indicates a strong commitment to research and innovation as well as their drive to improve clinical outcomes for patients.

“We are keen to see other Trusts follow their example and truly embed research as a standard option within their care culture, and this year we’re able to report that 99% of NHS Trusts in England were involved in delivering research during 2011/12. With their help we recruited almost 600,000 patients, which was a fantastic achievement. The league table helps us recognise the research commitment of NHS staff throughout England and shows that clinical research is not just for the large teaching hospitals – it is absolutely core business for all NHS Trusts.”

Developing a research-active culture brings a host of benefits for patients, clinicians and the NHS. It drives innovation, gives rise to better and more cost-effective treatments, and creates opportunities for staff development. Growing evidence also suggests that NHS organisations that are research-active appear to do better in overall performance.

Commenting on the league table results, Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health, said:

“This data from the NIHR Clinical Research Network is encouraging and shows us that high quality research is happening but we need to keep pushing for research to have the profile it deserves with both doctors and their patients.”

 To view the research activity league table in full visit: www.crncc.nihr.ac.uk/nhs-performance