New government plans to bring research into the NHS

This week, in his first keynote speech on science, David Cameron announced the Government's plans to stimulate health research by harnessing NHS patients and data.

Integrating research into the healthcare system aims to 'make every NHS patient a research patient' and attract commercial investment in UK science. This could provide huge opportunities to people with Parkinson's and researchers alike.

The Government has proposed 2 key changes:

1. Faster access to new treatments

Under the new plans, patients may no longer have to wait until a drug has been through the entire clinical trial process, which can take 20 years, to access new treatments.

This is good news for people with Parkinson's as it could mean that treatments become available sooner, and also for the pharmaceutical industry as it should make clinical research easier, faster and more efficient.

2. Opening up patient data

Another proposed change would allow information from patients' medical records to be shared anonymously with researchers and drug companies.

Clearly it's vital that access to patient data is very strictly controlled and that people who wish to can opt out. But sharing patient data in a responsible way offers huge opportunities for research into Parkinson's and other conditions.

We're excited to see the Government putting research at the heart of the NHS. And the steps they suggest could bring new and better treatments for Parkinson's to the people who need them much more quickly.

What do you think about the proposed changes?

5 comments:

Andrew Carmichael said...

Should be useful especially with 'non-drug' treatments composed of already proven safe food additives and supplements. Recommend PIPmix (www.brainhelp.info) as just such an item. Effective, can reverse loss of sense of smell, can give freedom from pain and constipation, better sleep and freer movement. Should be in use now.

Anonymous said...

Sounds an excellent idea but being a natural cynic I would want to be 100% certain of anonymity. This government seems hell-bent on causing constant worry to disabled people so I would want to be assured that this "research" was not abused and used as another way of snooping on disabled people.

Anonymous said...

The whole research process is too slow - very beurocratic, too much paperwork, target orientated with little regards for quality data by those who recruit patients! I recruite patients - I have targets, the same as a double glazing salesman! If this speeds up the process with good data then it can only be a good thing! Next job - streamline R and D, ethics and recruiting centres.

Anonymous said...

Pharmaceuticals don't want to cure you! Wake up! They want continuous business, people buying their prescription drug - lifetime paying customer, more $$$. i.e. AIDS medications prolong life but DO NOT cure. Damned Pharmas!

Anonymous said...

If this gets us nearer to a cure then I am all for it. If the process is quicker from raising money through to drug delivery, then the patient will benefit. Sharing data will improve the process and save time - time we don't have at the moment. If this involves targets, efficency savings, cross boundary working, good data collection then so be it. Getting the right patients in the right trial not only helps future science - but could also benefit the patient whilst in the trial.

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