Thousands in Bucks, Beds and Herts thanked for clinical trial participation
Many have helped with finding treatments for coronavirus
Last updated 20th May 2021
People who have taken part in COVID-19 studies in Bucks, Beds and Herts are being thanked, as today (20 May) marks International Clinical Trials Day.
A total 2,364 took part in eight studies supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in Buckinghamshire's hospitals and community settings such as GP practices in 2020-21.
Meanwhile in Bedfordshire, 4,637 people took part in nine studies and in Hertfordshire there were 1,145 participants in 11 studies.
International Clinical Trials Day celebrates the contribution of clinical trials to healthcare.
The NIHR's annual national Participant in Research Experience Survey of 1,231 NHS research participants in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire found 95 per cent of people who took part in research would volunteer for another study.
Among those who took part was 65 year-old builder Neil Mead, from Ivinghoe.
He took antiviral drugs lopinavir-ritonavir as part of the RECOVERY trial while in intensive care with COVID-19 at Aylesbury's Stoke Mandeville Hospital in March last year.
Mr Mead believes he caught the virus while in London with partner Cathy Britton in March last year.
He said:
"I've had regular coughs for a while, so any coughing I didn't take any notice of, but then I felt the fatigue coming on where in the end I was struggling to get out of bed."
The grandfather-of-six tested positive for COVID-19 and was taken to the hospital's intensive care unit and put on ventilation.
Mr Mead, who also has lung condition emphysema, said:
"I thought I was never going to speak to any of my kids again or my partner.
"I think those things make you fight more and to want to stay alive.
"A doctor then asked if I wanted to try an experimental treatment.
"I was afraid that I was close to passing and said 'I'd do anything to try and make myself better'."
Mr Mead left hospital after five weeks.
He continued:
"It's such an evil disease and I'm thankful to the hospital that I'm still alive because a lot of people have passed.
"I feel this research is so important because of what I've gone through and I hope it helps others in the future."
A total 303 people took part in the UK-wide University of Oxford trial in Buckinghamshire.
Nicola Higgins, Research Operations Manager at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
"International Clinical Trials Day provides our trust with a unique opportunity to raise awareness of clinical trials and of clinical research among our patients and the greater public.
"Now more than ever clinical research is crucial, as it will help us fight COVID-19.
"Researchers and healthcare professionals at the trust are working together at the forefront of this urgent research and we would like to offer our sincere thanks to the staff and patients who have volunteered to take part in these studies."
Prof Belinda Lennox, Clinical Director for the NIHR Clinical Research Network Thames Valley and South Midlands, said:
"This year has demonstrated, more than ever before, the vital importance of clinical research - we have trialled treatments that have saved lives and developed new vaccines that prevent disease.
"This is only possible because of research and because of the volunteers who have given their time and altruistically taken part, not knowing whether they would benefit or not.
"Thank you to each and every person who has taken part in clinical research this year. You have done something amazing."
The NIHR is supporting 97 nationally-prioritised COVID-19 studies in the UK that have so far involved more than one million participants.
People can learn more about COVID-19 research in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire in an online event this evening.
The event will feature discussions with a researcher, patient and research nurse from 7pm to 8pm.
People can register online.
Patients can also learn more about research and search for studies seeking volunteers online.