About research at North Mid

Do you want to be a part of helping keep people healthy? Would you like to help us find better ways to look after our patients?

We're always looking for patients who can help us find out which treatments work best for people and compare different approaches to preventing and treating illnesses and health problems.

You could be part of pushing the frontiers of modern medicine if you take part in our research projects and you will be helping patients in the future. If you are approached, we know you might have some questions and our team will be glad to help.

What might it involve?

This will vary, and your doctor will be able to explain exactly what this means for you. You will be part of a clinical trial testing new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent a disease.

You might be asked to:

  • Fill in a questionnaire
  • Give samples of blood, skin or other tissue
  • Take part in a chat with other patients, carers or members of the public about your experience
  • Be interviewed by a researcher so that we can hear about your views or experiences

If you are asked to be part of a trial, you’ll be given an information sheet that tells you more about the research, what it involves, how much time it is likely to take and all the risks and benefits of taking part.

You will be given time to make sure you understand all this information –at least two days – and please feel free to discuss this with your family, friends, GP or other people involves in your care. If you don’t understand any aspect of the trial, make sure you ask as you should only say yes and sign the consent form if you are sure you want to go ahead.

Taking part in research is a really positive experience, but you do not have to do it if you don’t want to. That decision will not affect your routine healthcare.

Researchers are observing staff meetings at North Mid where patients with cancer are being discussed

What are the staff meetings for?

Every patient diagnosed with cancer in the UK has their care and treatment discussed at meetings involving different medical professionals (known as ‘multidisciplinary team meetings’).  The meetings help ensure that every patient has specialist input when recommendations about their treatment are made.

Why are researchers attending these meetings?

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London are attending these ‘multidisciplinary team meetings’ to observe how staff interact and contribute to decision-making about treatment for patients with cancer.  The researchers hope to understand how the change to virtual ‘zoom’ meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the effectiveness of decision-making in cancer MDT meetings.  The findings will be used to create resources that support and improve MDT working.

Is patient information being collected or used by researchers?

No.  The researchers are not collecting or recording any information about patients.  But they cannot avoid hearing or seeing information about patients being discussed when observing staff’s discussions and decision-making. 

Could researchers see or hear information about me?

If you are receiving care for cancer at this hospital then it is possible that your identity and information about your care may be seen or heard by these researchers.  The researchers will NOT record or use any of your information in any way.  They will keep this information entirely confidential.  Only a small number (approximately six) meetings are being observed. 

YOU CAN OPT OUT: Please contact Daisy McInnerney, who is one of the researchers, by telephone <add number> or email <d.mcinnerney@qmul.ac.uk> if you DO NOT want researchers to hear or see information about you during these meetings.  Opting out WILL NOT affect any of your future care.

About our research and development office

Our research and development office helps North Mid to:

  • ensure that research which is using North Mid resources are compliant with the relevant regulations (e.g. Data Protection Act)
  • follows Clinical Research Principles (e.g. Good Clinical Practice)
  • has relevant approvals in place (e.g. New Business Research Committee, Health Research Authority, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority) and is of a high scientific standard
  • promote research within patients and staff to improve clinical care, raise organization profile and reputation
  • to develop a network with Universities, clinical partners and industries to achieve more than we can individually.

Research support and sponsorship

We can provide sponsorship for research studies at North Mid.

If you have an idea for your own piece of research to be carried out in the Trust that does not need funds, and does not involve medication, we want to hear from you.

Get in touch with Deborah McCartney, research governance facilitator, for more information.

NIHR Research Design Service

NIHR Research Design Service can support your study. Available support includes advice on potential sources of funding, the development of grant applications and building research networks both locally, and with other Universities and Trusts. Support can also be provided on statistical analysis and methods of dissemination, such as publications and conferences. 

Find out more information on their website.