SOUTHAMPTON hospital is one of the top in the country at carrying out research, new figures have revealed.

The data shows that University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) is among the top five performers in the country for the number of clinical research studies.

According to figures published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), more patients in the city are benefitting from improved access to new treatments following an increase in the number of clinical research studies and participants in the last year.

Overall, the trust saw a ten per cent year-on-year increase in its studies.

Between 2016 and 2017 the trust delivered 431 studies and saw 22,430 patients getting involved.

Jonathan Sheffield, chief executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, said: “The increase in the number of clinical research participants last year and the improvements we are seeing in studies delivering to time and target are fantastic achievements that are contributing to better health and care outcomes in this country.

“Researchers can be more confident of being able to complete their studies and more patients will benefit from new and better treatments becoming available.”

Now both patients and healthy volunteers are encouraged to talk to their healthcare practitioners about participating in clinical research. Mr Sheffield added: “We must continue to invest in the opportunities that clinical research presents by looking at more innovative ways of delivery and making better use of digital advancements in the health and care sector.”

The NIHR Research Activity League Table, which identified UHS as leading research hospital, is published nationally to show where there has been an increase or improvement in research activity over a year.

Becky Petley, a member of the trust’s young adult patient and public involvement group, said: “It is excellent to see UHS so high up in the NIHR league table this year.

“It recognises the wealth of opportunities the trust provides to get involved in research in Southampton and will help to make a real difference to the lives of patients in the future.”