Privacy Notice - Research

We are pleased to be part of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) for Wessex.  This means we are part of a network of GP partnerships who host medical research on a regular basis. Findings from research studies help all GPs, nurses and other health professionals provide the most appropriate and up-to-date care. Patients registered with us have an opportunity to help shape the future of health care by taking part in research projects.

As a member of the Clinical Research Network, we will from time to time invite patients to take part in research studies.  You will always receive clear information about what taking part in any research study would involve. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain further details about the study with no obligation to take part.

There are various ways a patient can become involved in studies at St Marys Surgery, Mulberry Surgery and Victor Street Surgery.

Requirements vary from study to study and if you choose to take part, this could include:

• Filling in a questionnaire
• Talking to a researcher about your views/symptoms
• Letting the researcher look at your medical notes
• Trying a new treatment, therapy or device
• Experiencing new combinations or timings of treatments
• Providing samples for testing (blood, urine, breath etc.)

You may be sent information via a text message, through the post, or read information about a current study in the patient waiting room or on the surgery website and wish to take part or your GP/nurse may discuss the study in a consultation where appropriate.

We may also contribute pseudonymised health data for national research and surveillance. This data enable continuous monitoring of infections and diseases in the community and is used in ethically approved research. This will always be done via a formal data sharing agreement. The pseudonymised data may be linked with other NHS data for analysis, including hospital episode statistics.

Participation in any research project is entirely voluntary and you can withdraw at any time throughout any study. Declining or withdrawing from any study will not affect your medical care in any way.

If you do not wish for your information to be used, please submit an Admin eConsult.