Information for the public

UHSFT is a leading international centre for healthcare research and education, giving our patients access to the latest and best care.

Improving your healthcare

From better surgical techniques for treating oesophogeal cancer to identifying vitamin D deficiency in infants, our clinicians tackle important questions for their patients’ benefit. Because of this you may be asked about taking part in a trial in the course of your treatment at UHSFT, and you can ask your GP, consultant or nurse whether there are any UHSFT trials relevant to your condition.

In joining a clinical trial you will recieve either the best current treatment for your condition, or a new one that has shown potential to work better - these are allocated to patients randomly, to ensure a balanced test. Some research studies work differently, but you will never be allocated a 'placebo' or no treatment where this would harm your care, health or safety. 

Improving the nation's healthcare

Clinical trials provide the only reliable evidence for safe, effective healthcare. Without patient volunteers the research can't happen. We depend on people's involvement to help improve the health and well-being of patients across the NHS nationally, and we're grateful for all that our participants do to help us develop better healthcare.

Our assurance

With research embedded into the fabric and work of the trust, patients can be confident of the same excellent standards of care and safety they expect across our services when participating in a trial.

Before it begins, all research involving NHS staff, facilities, service users, patients, their carers or relatives will always have been approved by an independent research ethics committee and will have been reviewed by the trust to ensure that it is safe and appropriate to conduct the research here at UHSFT.