Our Services
Research and Development
Health research helps to discover new and better ways to treat diseases, improve the NHS and the quality of care provided to our patients.
We are proud to be a Research Active Trust, delivering research studies within a wide variety of clinical specialties across the Trust.
Our Research Delivery team works across the hospital, our community settings and the Bolton locality to support the delivery of important health research. Our team is made up of experienced research nurses, practitioners and administrators.
They support our clinical teams in the delivery of research activity, to enable our patients the opportunity to take part in high quality research. The team provide ongoing support to research participants throughout their involvement in a research study.
This work is supported by dedicated staff in pharmacy, laboratories and radiology.
All research activity delivered by the Trust should be registered with our R&D Department, who provide advice and guidance on research ethics, governance and regulatory issues, and ensure that as a Trust we have the capacity and capability to deliver research safely and effectively.
If you are visiting the hospital as a patient, relative or carer, or are a member of staff, you may be approached by one of our team to take part in a research study.
Currently, our main areas of research are:
- Anaesthetics and Critical Care
- Cancer
- Children’s Services (Paediatrics)
- Ear, Nose and Throat
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Disease (including COVID-19 studies)
- Musculoskeletal (Orthopaedics and Rheumatology)
- Reproductive Health (Including Maternity)
- Respiratory Medicine
- Surgery
- Vaccine Research
We are always looking at the possibility of conducting research in new areas. We also provide education to the staff and students we work alongside.
There are several ways you can be involved in research:
- as a participant if you are being treated for a particular disease
- as a healthy volunteer
- as a relative or carer of a patient.
If you are a member of staff, you may be asked to support research activity in your area, or you may be asked to participate in a study about your role.
When being treated in our hospital, you may be invited to take part in one of the many research studies we are undertaking. You may be approached by your consultant or specialist nurse, or by another member of the research team. We actively support health and care research to expand the options available to our patients.
You will be given written information about the study and a member of the research team will discuss this with you. You will be given time to read the information and the opportunity to ask questions.
Participation in research is always voluntary, and if you decide not to take part you will always receive current standard care.
Be Part of Research enables you to find and take part in a range of health and care research.
Anyone can take part in research whether you have a health condition or not. You could take part in research at a local hospital, GP practice – or even at home.
It’s easy to get involved.
Simply sign up online and choose the health conditions you are interested in. You will be sent details of approved studies that match your interests to decide if you want to take part.
The Government wishes to see a dramatic and sustained improvement in the performance of providers of NHS services in initiating and delivering clinical research.
The aim is to increase the number of participants who have the opportunity to participate in research and to enhance the nation’s attractiveness as a host for research.
Providers of NHS services are required to publish information on recruitment to clinical trials and delivery to time and to target for commercial clinical trials, on a quarterly basis.
View our Performance in Initiating and Delivering Clinical Research at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.
Service locations
Key contact numbers
Research Delivery team
Tel: 01204 390445
Research@boltonft.nhs.uk