Research at the surgery

There is a long history of supporting research at Parkbury House Surgery. The practice supports important national studies which are organised by other researchers and adopted by the NIHR (National Institute of Health Research) (click here for more details). 

Research changes lives. It is through research that we can develop better treatments, as well as improve diagnosis, prevention, care and quality of life for everyone and make the future better than the past. Our goal is to facilitate access to research studies for our patients in primary care so they can access treatments or interventions that would not otherwise be available to them. It also gives our patients an opportunity to help find out more about their condition and for some this might provide a sense of empowerment or ‘fighting back’.  

Parkbury House works with the NIHR Clinical Research Network and is GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and Research Ready accredited. 

Dr Hannah Gale is our research lead; she coordinates studies and oversees patient participation. 

Taking part

If you meet the entry criteria for a particular research study that we are running at this practice, your doctor may discuss this with you. Alternatively, we may send you information through the post or via text message or email if we think you might be suitable for a new study. 

If you are interested in finding out more about that study, we will get in touch or ask for your permission to pass your name and contact details on to the relevant study team.  For some studies, you might be asked to reply directly to an external study team.  That study team will then make contact with you directly to tell you more about the study and what it involves. 

Current studies

For more information, please click here.

Please be assured that:

• Participation in research is entirely voluntary and you have the right to say ‘No’.  Nobody will put pressure on you to take part in research if you do not wish to.  You do not have to give us a reason if you decide not to take part. 
• Your care and your relationship with your doctor or nurse will not be affected in any way if you decide not to take part in a research study.
• You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve.  The practice will usually provide you with a patient information sheet; then, before you agree to take part, the study team will explain the study to you in more detail and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about it. 
• Nobody from outside this practice will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your consent.  If you do agree to take part in a study, you will be asked to sign a consent form – this will clearly state which parts of your notes (if any) may be looked at for the purposes of the research. 
• You will not be asked to take part in a large number of studies.  Most researchers are very specific about the criteria that people need to meet in order to enter their study.  Usually this means that only a relatively small number of patients at the practice will be suitable for any one study. 

Anonymous data sharing for research  

From time to time, we will become involved with outside bodies such as CPRD (clinical practice research datalink), which operates throughout the UK. Through the electronic clinical system we use to record medical notes, a completely anonymous (i.e., no identifiable patient details are shared) extract is taken which is used for medical research. This is always entirely anonymous and we are committed to protecting your confidentially at all times.  

Funding

We receive a contribution towards the cost of staff and premises from the NIHR or the organisation sponsoring the study, which is usually a university or NHS trust.  

Patients are not paid to participate in research, however they may in some studies receive compensation for expenses incurred by taking part in the study, such as vouchers to reimburse the cost of a prescription of a study medication.  

If you would like more information about our studies or are considering taking part, please email research.parkburyhouse@nhs.net.  You can also find more information about taking part in research via the NIHR website.