NHS :: UK patients will get quicker and easier access to latest medical help

Tens of thousands of NHS patients in England will get the chance to benefit from the very latest medical treatments at their GP surgery, dental practice or health centre thanks to a ?2 million Government investment each year in a new initiative to widen involvement in clinical studies.

The funding will establish a new Primary Care Research Network (PCRN) of eight regional teams of specialist doctors, nurses and scientists who will work with GP practices, health centres and dental practices to help raise awareness among clinicians of clinical studies currently recruiting patients.

Many different types of studies will be available through the PCRN. Most will focus on the areas for which primary care has particular responsibility, including disease prevention and health promotion, screening and early diagnosis, and the clinical management of long-term conditions.

Patients will get quicker and easier access to innovative approaches to managing chronic conditions or benefit from methods of detecting and preventing health problems.

It is expected that many thousands more patients will be involved in clinical studies as a results of the investment. The National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) tripled the number of cancer patients entering clinical trials in the last five years and the PCRN anticipates achieving a comparable rise.

UK Health Minister Lord Hunt said:

“Busy health professionals might not always have access to the latest information on current clinical studies that might benefit their patients, today’s cash injection will help solve this problem.

“The Primary Care Research Network is a world-leading initiative that will open up opportunities for NHS patients to get access to more advice, tests and treatment through trials based close to their homes while also promoting the most effective use of NHS cash.”


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