60 Years of NHS Research

MORE INVOLVEMENT AND CHOICE FOR PATIENTS

As many patients as possible will have the opportunity to be part of medical research that will transform the healthcare and wellbeing of the population, the Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.

Speaking at a summit hosted by the Prime Minister to commemorate 60 years of NHS research, Mr Johnson underlined the huge importance of research to the NHS and how the NHS had made unparalleled advances in medical science and healthcare since it was founded in 1948.

He set out new plans to ensure that patients, from every part of the country, with any illness or disease, are made aware of research that is of particular relevance to them. They will also be able to take part in clinical trials if they meet the criteria.

This could mean a patient with Parkinson's disease, for example, would be told about any ongoing research into their particular condition and may be able to take part in trials that could lead to an improvement or even cure.

Mr Johnson also announced the enablement of Academic Health Science Centres to unite our top-flight academic and NHS institutions to deliver excellent clinical care for patients.

Mr Johnson said:

"The UK is a world leader in health research. We owe a great debt to the many thousands of people who have contributed over the years to the future health and well-being of us all. These advances could not have happened without the imagination and commitment of the scientists and clinicians we celebrate today. The people who took part in their research deserve to be part of that celebration.

"I want every patient in the NHS to have the right to take part in approved medical research that is appropriate for them, if they choose to. And to underline the paramount importance of research, we will set out in the forthcoming NHS constitution the core role that it plays at the heart of the NHS."

A new report, 60 years of research in the NHS benefiting patients, was also published today. It summarises some of the great research discoveries which have been made in the NHS since its birth in 1948.