I spoke at the Clinical Discovery 2012 conference yesterday about the future value and impact of clinical research. This is one of a number of similar events I've presented at over the last month or so. On reflection there generally seems a more 'upbeat' conversation among conference-goers about clinical research in the UK compared to this time last … Continue reading GSK’s Witty remarks are easy to swallow from a patient perspective but the rest of the flock must follow
Author: simondenegri
Patients, David and Sally, talk about their part in the Parkinson’s Monument Discovery Project
At the UK Dementia Research event last week, I got chatting to Professor Richard Wade-Martins who is Principal Investigator at The Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre. This was in the queue for the cloakroom I should add, and following my witterings during the afternoon panel session. Richard leads a five year programe of research in Parkinson's disease at … Continue reading Patients, David and Sally, talk about their part in the Parkinson’s Monument Discovery Project
If NZ can do this why can’t we?
I get the feeling that this might not go down well. But I noticed this on the 'wires' this evening and you really have to say: 'why not?' The New Zealand Government is launching a $1million advertising campaign next month in which the public will be asked to help identify the scientific challenges which should … Continue reading If NZ can do this why can’t we?
Can we sum-up the NHS Constitution in 140 characters?
So, there's been a lot of activity around the NHS Constitution this week. The group reviewing this document, led by Dr Steve Field, held a twitter discussion one lunchtime and you can read the extracts of this on the Department of Health website here. Then, yesterday, Jeremy Taylor from National Voices and a member of the … Continue reading Can we sum-up the NHS Constitution in 140 characters?
Y’All: I still don’t really know what the BIS Science and Society strategy is about, do you?
I've been meaning to post this ever since it came across my Twitter feed some weeks ago. If you go on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Science and Society Strategy pages you'll see that they have published updated action plans for each of the 'Expert Groups' set up in 2010. These groups were tasked to … Continue reading Y’All: I still don’t really know what the BIS Science and Society strategy is about, do you?
Patient View launches EU health ‘apps’ directory
Patient View have today launched a new EU director of health 'apps' - these are the things people download onto iPhones and other smartphone devices. As I understand it each of the health 'apps' was recommended by patient groups and patients across the European Union. They are categorised according to the service they provide. You … Continue reading Patient View launches EU health ‘apps’ directory
NHS leaders on public involvement in services and research
Just thought I would pass on these two pieces by Candy Morris, Research Champion for the NHS, and Mike Farrar, CEO of the NHS Confederation, respectively, about the importance of public involvement in the NHS. Candy's article appears in the Department of Health's regular bulletin 'The Month,' and focuses on public involvement in clinical research. … Continue reading NHS leaders on public involvement in services and research
Round round get around I get around – Caldicott2, patient data, dementia portal and more!
So sang The Beach Boys who were on Radio 2's 'In Concert' this week. Not that I'm a great fan but it seemed apposite given my week. This has involved visits to TrialReach, Oxford (well, virtually!) to discuss plans for public involvement in the Biomedical Research Centre there, my good colleagues at BioMedCentral and, tomorrow, … Continue reading Round round get around I get around – Caldicott2, patient data, dementia portal and more!
World Alzheimer’s Day – from timebomb to tsunami (PLoS an update on patient information and placebos)
Expect lots of news pieces this week about Alzheimer's disease ahead of World Alzheimer's Day (WAD) which takes place on Friday 21st September. This is one of the better ones I have seen, from the Observer yesterday. Interesting how the language has changed although the message has not - what was once called a timebomb … Continue reading World Alzheimer’s Day – from timebomb to tsunami (PLoS an update on patient information and placebos)
New book on social care, service users and user involvement
There is just enough time before my Sunday tea and 'Downton' to give a merciless and unabashed plug for a new book by my good colleagues, Peter Beresford and Sarah Carr, entitled 'Social Care, Service Users and User Involvement' published by Jessica Kingsley and available also through Amazon. It really is a fine collection of … Continue reading New book on social care, service users and user involvement
We don’t do duvets: patient choice and clinical trials
Younger readers will remember a regular skit from the BBC's Saturday morning children's tv show some years ago in which the week's special guest would enter Trevor and Simon's laundrette and ask if they do duvets. 'We don't do duvets' Trevor and Simon would reply along with the studio audience. You could say that a … Continue reading We don’t do duvets: patient choice and clinical trials
A few distant musings about the cancer telethon ‘Stand up to Cancer’
The term 'telethon' sounds almost antiquated in an era when social media is in the ascendancy doesn't it? But Cancer Research UK/Channel 4's 'Stand up to cancer' telethon demonstrates that television still has the biggest muscle in drawing together a mass audience at a given time, in a given place and for a given cause. … Continue reading A few distant musings about the cancer telethon ‘Stand up to Cancer’
Cancer patient experience survey results show variations in access to clinical trials and research
The results of the annual cancer patient experience survey are out today. For those of us committed to improving patient access to clinical trials and other research, this year's report is particularly interesting. As far as I know, this is the first year that the survey asked patients whether taking part in research had been discussed … Continue reading Cancer patient experience survey results show variations in access to clinical trials and research
Cancer Research UK to get a new look
I noticed this in Civil Society from a few hours ago. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) - the largest publicly funded medical research charity in the UK - is reported to be launching a new identity in September to coincide with the 10th anniversary of its establishment from the merger of Cancer Research Campaign and the … Continue reading Cancer Research UK to get a new look
PM’s Global Health Policy Summit Speech signals the personal as well as phenomenal
You can find the full text of the Prime Minister's speech at the Global Health Policy Summit in London today here. David Cameron's remarks have caught the headlines because of his announcement about the new Phenome Centre. But, as important, are a number of other areas of his speech. These deal with the importance of the … Continue reading PM’s Global Health Policy Summit Speech signals the personal as well as phenomenal
Clinical trials and children: impact on outcomes
Interesting paper from the Annals of Oncology and covered in PharmaTimes on how access to clinical trials has led to better outcomes for children with cancer. The data relates to clinical trial activity promoted by the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group. A direct quote from the article says: "Between 1966 and 1970 just 28% of young … Continue reading Clinical trials and children: impact on outcomes
Caldicott 2 public evidence sessions
If you are looking for Olympics-mayhem avoidance strategies then what better than taking the opportunity to share your views on Information Governance. My good colleagues at INVOLVE have reminded me to remind you, that Caldicott's remaining public workshops will take place on 8 August in Birmingham and on 22 August in Oxford. The one in Leeds today was … Continue reading Caldicott 2 public evidence sessions
Is it an industry or a movement we are creating?
In his Guardian blog yesterday, Dick Vinegar, asks a genuinely good question: 'Who is fighting the patient's corner?' He writes about his recent attendance at a Westminster Health Forum conference about Healthwatch, and voices concern that all we are doing is creating just another bureaucracy in the name of patients. A thick, muddy, layer of … Continue reading Is it an industry or a movement we are creating?
Clinical trials activity report for England highlights progress but much work still to be done
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) CRN CC has today published its clinical research activity report for the final quarter of 2011/12. Some of the data and a good summary of what they mean is also available on The Guardian website. Last year was the first that this sort of information was made widely available. So … Continue reading Clinical trials activity report for England highlights progress but much work still to be done
There is no point to the javelin
It has come to this. The world's top tennis players rush their shots to beat an 11pm curfew. Bruce and Sir Paul are turned-off mid-performance. And they don't use real javelins in schools. Looking across the the athletics field at my sons' school sports day, I spied a clutch of children competing in the javelin. Except this … Continue reading There is no point to the javelin
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