Research and Development

The Research and Development department comprises a multi-disciplinary team of Research Nurses, Data Officers, Clinical Trial Officers, Research Administrators and Research Support Facilitators who are based across Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Treatment Centre, and the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.

Associate Medical Director for Research and Development:
Miss Pamela Sivathondan

Pam is a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, and was appointed to her current research role in 2022 to help promote and support research within the Trust. She is an enthusiastic research advocate who has a strong science research background and a broad experience of research in other Trusts (Leeds, Cardiff and Oxford). She is the current Principal Investigator for the ALLEGRO trial. Pam is particularly looking forward to developing the research culture here in Worcestershire.

Research Operations Lead:
This position is currently vacant.

Lead Research Nurse:
Jayne Tyler

Jayne qualified as a nurse in 1995, and has spent most of her working life in oncology, with 12 years spent in a research role. She is passionate about research, and firmly believes that it empowers patients, drives up standards of care, and allows patients to be offered the latest in care and innovation. Jayne says “I love working in Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust as it is forward thinking and open to research. It is a small Trust with big ambitions when it comes to research”.

Research Strategy

Active involvement in research should be a marker of quality for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Our vision is to:

• Increase opportunities for participation in research through a broad portfolio of studies that maximise recruitment and meaningfully involve patient representatives in our work
• Establish sustainable funding for research, investing income to build capacity
• Provide a quality culture and meet all targets in research through good governance
• Have a stable, skilled workforce, attracting quality staff to the Trust
• Raise the profile of research and cultivate a culture of research, as a marker of quality for the Trust
• Enable clinicians to become leaders and Chief Investigators.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Research Consortium

The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Research Consortium comprises Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust. Research teams within the two Trusts work in partnership, providing a balanced portfolio of healthcare research across the region. The Consortium aims are to maximise opportunity for participation in clinical trials, support a skilled and stable workforce, and promote the highest standards of research conduct.

Research Delivery Performance

National targets for clinical trials stipulate that NHS providers should endeavour to set up trials within 40 days of receipt of a valid application. Providers should aim to recruit an agreed number of participants over the lifespan of a trial.

Performance information on clinical trials at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which have been opened within the last year can be viewed here: https://ccfctp.nihr.ac.uk/public-trustsubmissions/worcestershire-acute-hospitals-nhs-trust-1123

Taking part in research is important because clinical trials can only happen if people are willing to be involved. People choose to participate for lots of different reasons, including a desire to support research into a particular condition or disease that they care about, to improve treatments for future generations, or to access new treatments. There are different types of research available from filling in a questionnaire to being involved in a drug trial.

How to get involved

If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, ask your doctor, nurse or midwife if there is a clinical trial that you could join. The National Institute for Health Research “Be Part of Research” website provides information about what clinical trials are, what you might need to know if you are considering joining a trial, and what happens when you are on a trial. You can search for UK clinical trials to find ones that might be suitable.

How we use your information

For information about how your data may be used in relation to research please visit the Health Research Authority website.

Patient Research Ambassador Initiative

We involve our patients and the public to help promote health research and ensure that patients have opportunities and choices about taking part in research. Our Patient Research Ambassadors are patients, carers or members of the public who volunteer to support our research teams. Find out more about the role of a Patient Research Ambassador, or contact us if you would be interested in becoming a research ambassador. 

Getting Involved

Delivering an existing study

There are many high-quality studies already open nationally that are looking for new sites to become involved. The National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) have a portfolio database of studies of significant national importance. The Research and Development team are committed to supporting the NIHR CRN to increase local research activity. Please contact us if you would like more information.

Developing your own research

The Research and Development team is keen to support Trust staff in developing their own research ideas. It is well established that locally-generated research is more successfully delivered, and has an increased impact on local services and quality. If you have a research idea for a study involving patients from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust please contact us for support.

Commercial Research

Research which is sponsored by a commercial organisation, such as a pharmaceutical company, rather than by an NHS organisation or Academic Institution, is generally regarded as ‘commercial’. Commercial research forms a vital part of the Trust portfolio of research activity, and we are always keen to work with new commercial partners. Our research teams are experienced in the timely set-up and successful delivery of commercial research across multiple specialties, with a particular focus on Cardiovascular Disease, Respiratory Disease and Cancer. 

Researcher Training

Researchers at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust have the opportunity to access training organised by CRN West Midlands, including Valid Informed Consent, Pharmacovigilance, Site File Management, IRAS & HRA and Protocol Design. Training is freely available, and courses are advertised and booked via a dedicated website.

Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

GCP is an international ethical and quality standard for the design, conduct, performance, monitoring, auditing, recording, analysis and reporting of clinical trials. The framework serves to protect the rights, safety, well-being and confidentiality of trial participants. It is a Trust requirement that local members of a research team have undertaken GCP training.

Initial GCP training can be booked via the CRN training website. Refresher training is also available face to face or online.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital Research Midwives and Obstetric Consultants are excited to have joined more than 30 other maternity units in England for this new trial in collaboration with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, University of Warwick and the Perinatal Institute.

Difficulty in delivering the shoulders of a baby after the head has been delivered can be a complication for babies that are bigger than average. It has been suggested that if we can deliver bigger babies a couple of weeks earlier this may reduce the chance of complications. However, the evidence is not clear and can be interpreted in different ways. This study will help to inform NHS policy, and provide important information for maternal choice.

This is a national study of 4,000 pregnant women, and those who consent to be part of the trial will be allocated at random into either an early induction of labour, with the aim to be delivered at around 38 weeks, or to normal care where labour is awaited to start naturally. The team will then look at whether as a result of earlier birth there were fewer complications such as difficulty with the delivery of the shoulders.

Talk to your midwife, or click here if you would like more information about this trial.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is currently recruiting participants for a wide range of research projects.

Please go to the Be Part of Research website to search for studies that may be of interest.

Contact us

Research & Development Management Office
Worcestershire Clinical Research Unit
Newtown Road
Worcester
WR5 1HN (WR5 1JF for Sat-Nav)

Tel: 01905 760256

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How to find us

The Research & Development Management Office is situated on Newtown Road between the Working Well Centre and John Anthony Centre. Car parking is available behind the office building.