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Nearly 20,000
patients and volunteers took part in clinical research trials
THE National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network published their
annual league table and it shows the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen
University Hospitals NHS Trust had more volunteers for clinical
trials than any other hospital trust in the country.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network is the clinical research delivery
arm of the NHS. It provides funding to hospitals and surgeries to
allow them to carry out clinical research; a vital part of the work
of the NHS. Their annual league
table
shows the number of studies undertaken by each NHS Trust as well as
the number of patients and healthy volunteers who were recruited
between April 2013 and March 2014.
The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
recruited 19,392 patients and healthy volunteers for studies over
the year and were ranked second in the country, behind the CRN West
Midlands Primary Care, a local branch of the NIHR clinical research
network, making the Trust the number 1 hospital trust in the country
for recruiting research volunteers.
Aidan Kehoe, chief executive of the Trust, said:- "With the
development of the Liverpool Health Campus, we aim to make Liverpool
a global centre of excellence for health related research and
clinical trials.
Last year, we were appointed as the Local Clinical Research Network
host for the North West Coast. As network host, we are working with
NHS Trusts and other partner organisations from across the region to
raise the profile of clinical research so that local people can
benefit from having access to the very latest treatments. It's
fantastic to see we have been ranked second in the country for the
number of patients and healthy volunteers involved in our clinical
trials and to recruit over 19,000 patients is an excellent
achievement."
Prof Robert Sutton, clinical director of research development and
innovation said:- "As a teaching hospital we're always looking
for more patients and healthy volunteers to take part in clinical
trials to help improve the future of healthcare so we're delighted
to see the Trust has been recognised for our involvement with
patients. We have over 400 clinical trials running in
the hospital at any one time, in around 40 different departments. If
anyone wants to know more about taking part in clinical trials
call:- 0151 706 4680, 8am to 4pm or by
email."
Witness Request
following a serious Road Traffic Collision (RTC) in Netherton
MERSEYSIDE Police are
appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision
in Netherton, on Monday, 8 September 2014. The Police have told us
that:- "Emergency Services were called to Northern Perimeter
Road, at around 8.50pm, to reports that an off road Yamaha motor
bike had collided with a car. Officers from the Matrix Serious
Organised Crime Roads Policing Unit attended at the scene and found
2 men, who had been on the off road bike, with serious injuries. The
men, who are believed to be in their 20's, was taken to hospital for
treatment. Both their conditions are described as critical at this
time. The driver of the car, a Land Rover, wasn't injured. Collision
investigators attended and the road it had to be closed whilst the
scene is was examined. CCTV is being located from the surrounding
area and an investigation into the full circumstances surrounding
the incident is continuing." Anyone who witnessed the
collision is asked to call officers from the Matrix Serious
Organised Crime Roads Policing Unit on:- 0151 777 5747. |
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Work life
balance the top priority
EMPLOYEES are increasingly
placing more value on work life balance over pay and benefits,
according to a survey by a Southport based business advisory firm.
The online poll, conducted by Moore and Smalley Chartered
Accountants and Business Advisers, found that 60% of employees see a
healthier balance between work and personal lives as their top
priority. Only 20% of those surveyed placed the most emphasis
on the pay package offered by an employer. A further 20% of
employees place the highest value on being trusted to get on with
the job without being 'micro-managed'.
James Treadwell, partner at Moore and Smalley, said:- "This
survey suggests that firms that help staff achieve a good balance
between their professional and personal commitments are more likely
to attract and retain top talent.
The employer benefits of promoting a balanced lifestyle are
wide ranging, including saving money on recruitment costs. It is
also proven that happy staff are more productive in the workplace,
so it makes good business sense to cater for employee needs.
The desire for a greater work-life balance is perhaps reflected in
the government's attempts to alter British working cultures, such as
extending the right to request flexible working to all workers, not
just parents, and changing the rules on shared parental leave." According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)Britons in full time employment work an average of 42.7 hours a
week, only an hour less than Greeks who work the longest hours in
Europe.
The UK also lacks in comparison to Denmark which was found to have
the best work life balance by the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Better Life Index, suggesting
UK firms need to do more to satisfy staff in this area.
The Green Party
calls for a £10 minimum wage for all
THE Green Party has called
for the statutory minimum wage to be immediately lifted to Living
Wage levels and for a £10 per hour minimum wage for all by 2020.
Yet many businesses point out that this would lead to us pricing our
services out of the global market and lead to huge redundancies. The Green Party
says that it is:- "the only party committed to delivering real change
for the common good, believes every worker over 16 should be paid at
least the minimum wage and would abolish the age based differential
rates currently in place.
Raising the minimum wage to living wage levels would benefit an
estimated 5.2million people; 17% of the working population; and
usher in a fairer society where fewer workers are trapped in poverty
pay conditions." Sadly mist small businesses point out
that the money to afford these rises is just not in the economy and
many small businesses, and even many large businesses will face the
prospect of cutting the work force or closing, should the
economic situation not change.
The policy announcement was made by Green Party Leader Natalie
Bennett on the eve of the Greens' Party Conference at Conference
Aston in Birmingham, that was held over 5 September to 8 September
2014. The new policy pledges
will appear in the Green Party's 2015 General Election Manifesto
alongside other measures designed to address persistent inequality
and poverty. The Green Party is calling for a Wealth Tax on the top
1% and company wide pay ratios. Quite how small business could
cope with the rise is yet to be shown by the party, who like the
Unions seem to be focused on what big business is doing and not
looking at the grass rout businesses.
Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett said:- "Under our plan
no-one would be paid less than £10 an hour in 2020. It is a scandal
that under the Coalition government the number of workers earning
less than the Living Wage has risen by a staggering 50% from
3.4million in 2011 to 5.2million today. It makes a mockery of Prime
Minister David Cameron's 2010 statement that a Living Wage is 'an
idea whose time has come.
The fact that the Green Party are consistently polling at some of
our best numbers since 1989 goes to show that our message of the
need to reshape our politics and economy to work for the common good
is really hitting home. It is our policies such as making the
minimum wage a Living Wage, a Wealth Tax on the top 1%,
renationalising our railways and having a publicly owned and run NHS
that are both encouraging people to join as members and vote Green
in growing numbers."
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