The NHS is committed to the innovation, and to the promotion, conduct and use of research to improve the current and future health and care of the population

Clinical research is a major driver of innovation and central to NHS practice for maintaining and developing high standards of patient care. Participating in clinical research allows patients to get access to new interventions, treatments and medicines. Ultimately, investment in research means better and more cost-effective care for patients.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research and provides the people, facilities and technology that enables research to thrive. Working in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public, they deliver and enable world-class research that transforms people's lives, promotes economic growth and advances science.

Stokewood Surgery is part of a network of local practices participating in research activities under the banner of National Institute for Health and Care Research South Central Regional Research Delivery Network (NIHR SCRRDN). The SCRRDN is hosted by Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Frimley, Hampshire, and Isle of Wight

Click here to find out more about the work of the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Support for primary care research

The National Institute for Health and Care Research works with researchers and primary care practitioners such as GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists and dentists to promote the successful delivery of research studies in the NHS. We support a wide range of research including studies which look at:

●        promoting a healthier lifestyle

●        disease diagnosis and prevention

●        management of long-term illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension

●        prevention of future ill-health

●        treating common conditions such as influenza

Use of third-party document outsource processors (mailing companies)

Researchers regularly use document outsource processors such as Docmail to send study information to people who might be interested in taking part in clinical research. Only companies that are confirmed as being fully compliant with the laws surrounding data protection and data sharing, such as GDPR, are used. In addition to this, providers will be reviewed and permitted by the regulatory bodies that ethically approve, govern, and oversee clinical research taking place in the UK, such as the NHS Health Research Authority and Research Ethics Committees.

We would like to reassure you that, should you receive an invite to participate in a research study:

●        The letter will have come directly from the practice. We do not share identifiable information with researchers without patient consent.

●        It is our practice staff who perform research mailouts using the document outsource processor. Your contact details will not be shared outside of the system and will be deleted after 28 days.

We are part of Clinical Practice Research Datalink which means that we contribute de-identified data to CPRD (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) for public health research. CPRD is a real-world research service supporting retrospective and prospective public health and clinical studies and is jointly sponsored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, as part of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Individual patients cannot be identified from this information, but you are able to opt out if you prefer. Protecting the confidentiality of patient data is paramount, and only anonymised patient data is provided to researchers