Cancer research ‘sales’ to patients remain flat

Today sees the annual Cancer Patient Experience Survey published. For the third year running it looks at the extent to which people with cancer are being told about the opportunity to take part in research. Also, how many take up that opportunity. National data is published and then statistics are provided by NHS Trust and … Continue reading Cancer research ‘sales’ to patients remain flat

Health Research Authority looks for good practice in identifying research participants – survey.

Excuse my laziness but it is Saturday. Here's a copy of a press release put out by the a Health Research Authority (HRA) on Wednesday about a call (in essence, a survey) they are doing for good practice in identifying potential participants for research studies. The results of the work will be published by HRA … Continue reading Health Research Authority looks for good practice in identifying research participants – survey.

Exclusive preview! UK clinical research gets its own TV show…..Downtown eat your heart out @NIHRCRN

So here's something to make your crumpet and jam just a bit more palatable on Sunday afternoon...Thanks to NIR CRN. This week Health Sector TV will be broadcasting a programme entitled ‘Clinical Research: Making Patients and the NHS Better.’ The blurb says that this is 'an important new documentary highlighting how the Clinical Research Network (as … Continue reading Exclusive preview! UK clinical research gets its own TV show…..Downtown eat your heart out @NIHRCRN

Survey: Cancer patients and research – the signage is there but not the opportunity to take part

You know how the story goes.  Cancer is way ahead of other conditions when it comes to patients having the opportunity to participate in clinical research.  But there's still lots of room for improvement. Today NHS England has announced the results of the annual National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.  Almost 70,000 patients took part in … Continue reading Survey: Cancer patients and research – the signage is there but not the opportunity to take part

Australia launches new clinical trials website for consumers and it’s not as good as the UK’s (UKCTG)

We do beat ourselves up on a regular basis in this country.  Sometimes appropriately.  But often the punches fly a little too freely. Australia have launched a new clinical trials website today to boost patient recruitment.  It has strengths.  But it is not as good as our own UK Clinical Trials Gateway (UKCTG).  For one … Continue reading Australia launches new clinical trials website for consumers and it’s not as good as the UK’s (UKCTG)

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

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

The NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate and patients in health research

The Shard went up (officially).  And the NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate came down from on high.  All on the same day.  Add the odd torrential downpour with its associated misery and these could be Biblical times. I have come to the conclusion that it is my fate to be locked away somewhere remote and with an intermittent … Continue reading The NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate and patients in health research