Tracy McCranor: Research has built the NHS we have today

By Tracy McCranor traceymccranor

Research in healthcare is vital, it has built the NHS we have today. Getting involved in healthcare research shapes the NHS for the future, helps discover life-saving treatments and improves how we deliver care.

My name is Tracy McCranor and I’m the Clinical Research Manager, at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT). My team are active enablers of research and work to remove barriers to help and encourage people to get involved in medical research, for the benefit of current and future patients.

International Clinical Trials Day is an annual event held on 20 May to raise awareness of clinical trials and encourage staff, patients, carers and the public to get involved and to celebrate improvements in care and treatment thanks to clinical research.

May 20 is the date when the first controlled clinical trial was conducted in the modern era – the 1747 scurvy trial conducted by James Lind.

To mark International Clinical Trials Day 2019, the National Institute for Health Research is launching its new Be Part of Research campaign which gives everyone the chance to find out about clinical trials and how they can take part in research.

Dementia Action Week 2019 is also this week (20-26 May), which seeks to unite people, workplaces, schools and communities to take action and improve the lives of people living with dementia.

LPFT Research Team are planning to celebrate both of these events with Research Week 2019 (20-26 May); we will be as visible as possible across the trust and wider county organisations – raising the profile of research and helping anyone who wants to be involved to become research active.

Research can only happen if we are all willing to be involved.  Here are some simple ways you can make a difference:

1. Take part in a research trial – we are bringing new research trials to Lincolnshire all the time – contact us [email protected]
2. Join Dementia Research – a national database matching dementia studies to people who want to take part joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk anyone over the age of 18 can register, with or without memory problems.
3. If you are a health or social care professional – complete the Join Dementia Research (JDR) learning tool to understand what JDR is and how to promote within your everyday work learn.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk
   \Social media – show your support of Research on International Clinical Trials Day or Dementia Action Week please tag @LPFTResearch @LPFTNHS @NIHRCRNEastMids and #CTD2019 #BePartOfResearch #DAW2019

During this week, we have two Patient Research Ambassadors starting work with us and we’re launching this exciting initiative in the Trust www.nihr.ac.uk/patients-and-public/how-to-join-in/patient-research-ambassadors

Patient Research Ambassadors are volunteers who help promote and support specific studies and encourage people to participate in them.

Come and join us at one of the Research Week 2019 events or contact us [email protected] or @LPFTResearch and see how you can really make a difference through taking part in research.

Tracy is the Clinical Research Manager, at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT)