Staff share their passion for research at Central Manchester University Hospitals Annual Members’ Meeting
Research and Innovation (R&I) Division staff got together with colleagues from partner organisations to share their passion for research at the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) Annual Members’ Meeting.
The event is open to all CMFT staff and Foundation Trust Members, as well as patients and members of the public. It took place at the Postgraduate Centre on Tuesday 27th September.
Charlotte Bryant, Clinical Trials Manager at Saint Mary’s Hospital was on hand to meet and chat to visitors at the event. She said:
Many patients and staff members at CMFT are not aware that we undertake clinical research and we’re home to internationally renowned researchers and studies. It was great to be able to raise awareness and give visitors information about how they can get involved and find out more.
Charlotte was joined by Janet Eastwood, Head of Communications at NIHR Clinical Research Network: Greater Manchester, who spoke to guests about the Network’s role to provide infrastructure to allow high-quality clinical research to take place in the NHS.
Janet explained: “The NIHR Clinical Research Network: Greater Manchester exists to deliver research to make patients, and the NHS, better. We work to help researchers to set up clinical studies quickly and effectively; support the life-sciences industry; provide health professionals with research workforce development and learning, and ensure patient needs are at the centre of all research activity.”
Katherine Grady from Research for the Future also joined the stand to showcase current campaigns.
Research for the Future is an NHS-supported project to encourage people living in and around Greater Manchester to take part in local health research opportunities.
The scheme consists of a series of ‘Help BEAT’ campaigns which invite people with a particular health condition to hear more about research going on into that condition. Help BEAT Diabetes, Respiratory Disease and Heart Disease campaigns are currently running.
Katherine commented: “I was delighted to come along to the Annual Members’ Meeting to help spread the word about research and its benefits to CMFT staff and the public. It’s important for us to help dispel myths about research; it’s not all about clinical trials testing new drugs and devices; participants can also help to shape research by taking part in projects such as questionnaires and focus groups. I had a lot of interest in the stand, with people enquiring about all of our Help BEAT campaigns and signing up to receive more information.”
The Annual Members’ Meeting sees staff from across CMFT host information stands, showcasing partnership work to care for patients. This year’s event theme was ‘Working Together to Care for You’ and aimed to celebrate the Trust’s rating of ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission. Senior Trust leaders also gave presentations about the 2015/16 annual report and accounts, plus details of future plans.
See a Storify from the event.
