As of 16 June, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Be Part of Research service is offering the chance for patients to participate in clinical trials through the NHS app. This strategy is a part of the 10-year Health Plan that aims to ‘build a health service fit for the future’.  

The NHS app, launched in 2019, has been used to provide easier and faster access to health services and allows patients to receive test results and updates on their prescriptions. Now, patients can be matched to clinical trials based on their health conditions and receive a notification on the app to take part in clinical trials. Patients will be able to acquire medicines at no cost and at a faster rate. They will also be contributing towards building stronger clinical research which will improve trial efficiency and speed up the drug application process, ultimately helping to get drugs to market faster. 

Participants from under-represented groups such as Black and South Asian people are being encouraged to sign up to the trials. This will be useful in ensuring that the drug development process uses results from a more inclusive and diverse data pool. 

However, as patients will be receiving investigational medicines that have not yet been approved, this involves risks and unknown side effects. Therefore it is paramount that the appropriate regulatory procedures are followed, for instance: 

  • Patients must be given informed consent and should be made aware of the known risks and side effects 
  • Regulatory authorities must carry out inspections to ensure compliance with Good Clinical Practice 
  • Safety reports and monitoring is essential and this data should be submitted to Data Safety Monitoring Boards 

The launch of the Be Part of Research service is a significantly positive step forward and provides opportunities to advance the development of medicines and improve the patient experience. Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of NIHR, said: ‘We know the benefits of embedding clinical research across the NHS and beyond. It leads to better care for patients, more opportunities for our workforce and provides a huge economic benefit for our health and care system. Integrated into the NHS App, the NIHR Be Part of Research service enables members of the public to be matched to vital trials, ensuring the best and latest treatments and care get to the NHS quicker.’ 

For more information about the app, visit the NHS website.

 

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