Research and Innovation

Research at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (SCHT)

SCHT aims to be a highly research active Trust, offering our patients, service users, staff and local communities access to and the chance to participate in research that is relevant and applicable to them.

We understand that many service users are keen to take part in research, and can find it a positive and empowering experience. The NHS aims to embed research into practice, and by engaging with our local partners in the West Midlands NIHR Clinical Research Network and fostering relationships with neighbouring Trusts and academic institutions, SCHT can make sure it has an active role in that endeavour.

As a Trust with a very wide ranging variety of services and locations, we understand that it is important that we identify research projects that are applicable to our communities and all the studies undertaken within the Trust have been designed by Trusts like ours or Universities specialising in the services we deliver. The research team at SCHT has worked with Trust leaders to adopt a portfolio of research projects within the Trust that will give the widest range of staff and service uses the opportunity to play an active role in current research and if there is a clearly defined benefit to service users and healthcare generally.

Health and social care research should serve the public interest and we abide by this by following the relevant legislation and guidance, including:

• UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care for Research;
• General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018;
• National Opt Out Programme

To safeguard your rights, we will use the minimum personally-identifiable information possible and seek explicit informed consent when required. Further information about how patient information and healthcare research is used you can visit the HRA website.

Examples of how your information may be used can be gathered from the study leaflets available here.

How we use your data in Research

As a Trust we work hard to protect your personal data and with regards research we believe that our patients would like to be informed about research projects which may be relevant to them.

We carry out these studies with the support of experienced specialist NHS research staff who may help identify patients who might be suitable for the studies we have agreed undertake

If you have any concerns or questions about our research projects please contact a member of the Research Team; or if you have concerns about how we have handled your personal data or if you wish to raise a complaint please contact the Data Protection Officer.

If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are processing your personal data in a way that is not lawful you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Public Research Champions

We are currently seeking volunteers to take on the role of public research champion at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust. To assist us with our vision to be a highly research active Trust, offering our patients, service users, staff, and local communities’ access to and the chance to participate in research that is relevant and applicable to them.

For further information and to express an interest contact the Research team on shropcom.research@nhs.net

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