The King’s Lynn hospital successfully enrolled five patients, marking a significant milestone in recruitment and reaffirming the Trust’s ongoing dedication to research.
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition that affects around 920,000 people in the UK, with approximately 200,000 new diagnoses each year. According to NHS England these figures are expected to nearly double by 2040. Research into causes, prevention and treatment of heart failure is vital, and advances from clinical trials have already helped to improve millions of patients’ lives.
The QEH is committed to delivering research and, in turn, contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes. The Research, Innovation and Development department at the Trust is continuously embarking on new studies and in the last year has become one of just 15 UK sites actively participating in a major heart failure trial, sponsored by AstraZeneca.
The trial is providing patients with access to a cutting-edge investigational treatment, while playing a critical role in the global effort to tackle heart failure. Since the trial opened, The QEH has led the way in patient recruitment, positioning themselves as key players in the trial’s success within the UK.
Dr Rudolf Duehmke, Principal Investigator at The QEH, said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as the UK’s leading recruiter in this global heart failure clinical trial. This achievement highlights the outstanding dedication of our Research and Innovation team, particularly Tom Dymond, Grace Hasnip, Debbie Wilding, and Drs Fady Magdy and, Amanda King and Ash Reddy. Their hard work has been key to our success, especially as a smaller hospital competing with larger centres.
“We look forward to building on this success and continuing to offer innovative treatment options through future research opportunities.”
The hospital’s Lead for Research, Innovation and Development, Tom Dymond, added: “Recruiting five patients is a fantastic achievement for the cardiology team at The QEH as it gives patients the opportunity to be involved in research with new medications, something that the Trust has not previously delivered. I would like to thank all of the patients who are taking part in this study and all research participants within the Trust”.
Rebecca Martin, Medical Director at The QEH, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our patients the chance to take part in vital research such as this where possible.”
As recruitment continues, the Trust remains focused on meeting and exceeding recruitment targets, bringing vital treatments one step closer to those who need them.
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