Heart Of England NHS Foundation Trust

Description

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest Hospital Trusts in England.

It includes Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital and Community Services, Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham Chest Clinic. We also run a number of smaller satellite units, allowing people to be treated as close to home as possible.

The Trust is a world leader in tackling MRSA and specialises in treating patients suffering from a wide range of illnesses including heart and kidney disease, cancer, HIV and AIDS, as well as respiratory conditions like Cystic Fibrosis. We also have expertise in premature baby care, bone marrow transplants and thoracic surgery.

Our dynamic organisation originally developed from Little Bromwich Hospital, a fever hospital and sanatorium on the outskirts of Birmingham. As East Birmingham District General Hospital, it acquired the Marston Green Maternity Hospital and became the first acute trust in Birmingham in 1992.

• We employ more than 11,000 members of staff, making us one of the top five employers in the Midlands.
• We see and treat more than 1.2 million people every year.
• Our Hospitals deliver more babies than anywhere else in Europe.
• 250,000 people attend our Hospitals’ emergency departments each year.

Public involvement in research

The Clinical Research Ambassador Group (CRAG), based at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT), consists of a local group of patients, carers, members of the public who have an interest in the clinical research which is undertaken across the 3 sites at HEFT. Membership of the group is open to anyone within the HEFT catchment area  and the level of involvement is up to the individual – from receiving and commenting on research information to actively developing research ideas. The CRAG aim is to shape and guide clinical research at HEFT, support its members through education and promote the non tokenistic approach to Patients and the public’s involvement with the research speciality.

Members will play an active role in reviewing clinical research and ensuring research developed within the trust addresses the needs and priorities of patients and carers and results in beneficial new treatments and services. In return a structured programme of basic training will be offered to the members and monitory expenses will be covered.

After an open evening to develop the CRAG programme we now have a database of 25 cross disease speciality people on board to support and enhance our research. This group albeit based at HEFT can be utilised across the region if required.