More Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire patients will get clinical trials at new multi-million pound centres

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) which manages New Cross Hospital, Walsall Manor Hospital and Birmingham Women's and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust have joined forces to spearhead a £7m regional research centre.

The move is under the new National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) programme set up to offer clinical trials to patients who have the greatest need and redress health inequalities. 

Residents will be able to join research trials easier in the scheme which will work in partnership with drug companies to deliver trials in a safe and responsible way.

The Wolverhampton trust said the initiatives will include the rolling out of innovative ideas such as community-based trial locations, mobile research units and digital technology to ensure the CRDC reaches residents who have never participated in such programmes.

The 25 partners include the Black Country healthcare trusts, Dudley Integrated, Sandwell and West Birmingham, The Dudley Group, Walsall Healthcare and the  NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board.

Meanwhile the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust which runs Stafford's County Hospital is setting up a similar centre as part of the £72m seven-year investment scheme which is starting in April. 

RWT and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust group research director Pauline Boyle said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our population to have access to even more world-class clinical research which will transform health outcomes.”

The trust added that the public's voice will be central to every stage of the centre’s work.

It will be known as the Central and North West Midlands (C&NWM) CRDC and will be based in Birmingham, however, the centre's staff will work closely with Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and research partners from the Black Country and Birmingham Health Partners.

The RWT said while Wolverhampton was eligible to be the host centre, a decision was taken to collaborate with the Birmingham trust in an effort to maximise the opportunities for residents.

It added that the region is home to some 4.2 million people and includes many of the UK’s most economically deprived communities which face significant health inequalities and higher rates of serious illness.

Department of Health and Social Care chief scientific adviser Professor Lucy Chappell said: “Clinical trials help improve lives. Boosting the NHS’s capacity to deliver commercial clinical research through these CRDCs will support recruitment across all communities and bring innovative treatments to patients.”