Northampton General Hospital is located close to the centre of Northampton in the East Midlands and approximately 75 miles north east of London. It serves a local population of 360,000, with 614 beds, 14 operating theatres, ITU and HDU facilities and an annual turnover of more than £190million.

The hospital is also a recognised cancer centre, providing specialist care to a catchment population of 880,000 (Cancer care catchment is usually close to 1 million per centre in UK). The hospital is also developing local renal services and cardiology services as a sub-specialty of medicine with a capital investment of around £25million.

Most research is run through the Trusts clinical trials unit (R&D unit). The unit does not generate research but provide skilled resources to facilitate the recruitment of patients to clinical trial. 80& of studies undertaken are academic in nature however the 20% of commercial studies facilitated provide 80% of the finance. The Northampton General Hospital R & D Unit is used by ICRI Global Research as its Simulator Unit.

The staff in the unit include:

• Mrs Julie Wilson – R&D Manager
• Mr Ed Shaxted – Clinical Director
• Two PI’s (dedicated – hospital staff are also PI’s on certain studies
• Four FTE research nurses/technicians
• Two CTC/admin
• One accounts/finance

Facilities include (see attached photos):

• Reception
• Patients lounge
• Two single bed consulting rooms
• One two bed research area
• One six bed research area (shared facility)
• Archive room
• Research office
• Laboratory

Whilst commercial studies are confidential examples (provided by the unit) of academic work which demonstrate the units capability include:

• Clinical trials in monoclonal antibodies in asthma and rheumatology have given clinical experience and practical knowledge of these new drugs in a controlled and systematic manner
• Clinical trials that we have participated in around glitazones and new insulin’s have subsequently been evaluated by National Institute for Clinical and Healthcare Excellence (NICE)
• We continue to work on the lipid story – originally with the Heart Protection Study then Search and now Thrive. This is part of our work with Oxford that has had international acclaim
• Similarly we have fifteen years of working with Cambridge on their paediatric suite of studies looking at type 1 diabetes. The latest results area providing a new area of investigation into renal risks.
• Work with Leicestershire Northamptonshire and Rutland Cardiac Network. We have worked with this network to support their patient and public involvement strategy. This involved using our research staff to undertake a series of discovery interviews, once appropriately trained. As a consequence the cardiac rehab service here in NGH has made significant improvement to the scheduling and logistics of the cardiac rehab programme

Northampton General is now working with the following research networks:

• Cancer services – our cancer research team is currently working on a portfolio of 22 trials. We have recruited over 942 patients using research nurses funded from support for acience over the past years. These post are being withdrawn and we regret that the LNR CNRN are also withdrawing funding for research nurses. This leaves our Cancer centre with 0.5 WTE of funded Research Nurse time. Therefore unless alternative funding can be found it is with regret that this activity will cease next year. We will still have the issue of patients in long-term follow up.
• The Trent Stroke network - The stroke unit have recently interviewed for a 0.5 WTE Research nurse and full backup is provided by the local clinic investigators - they seem satisfied that this will produce a robust system.
• Diabetes network – The East Midlands Diabetes network have contracted 3.0 WTE research nurse posts to be available for pan Northamptonshire UKCRN adopted studies. The research portfolio is now growing and we have a high expectation that we can deliver substantial recruitment in this area.
• Dendron - We are linked with the Thames Valley Dendron network. The R&D Office here in NGH helped to establish this network until a manager was appointed. Dementia and neurodegenerative research is a substantial new area of research and we are pleased that Northampton will be recognised as a hub in this network.
• PCRN Emsy - We have been involved in this network since its inception. We envisage that our skills and experience in the recruitment may support activity in this county.