A new feature of the NHS app is set to transform how patients access clinical trials. By enabling users to sign up for life-changing medical research, this initiative marks a significant step in improving healthcare and advancing medical research in the UK.
The update will automatically match patients with trials based on their health data, ensuring they receive personalised notifications about relevant opportunities.
The initiative forms part of the government’s 10-year health plan, which seeks to modernise healthcare systems and boost the UK’s global standing in clinical research. This move is especially timely, considering recent criticisms regarding the slow set-up times for clinical trials and the decline in participation rates.
NHS: Boosting Access to Clinical Trials Through Digital Innovation
Patients across England will soon be able to browse and sign up for clinical trials directly via their smartphones. This feature, introduced in the NHS app, is a groundbreaking tool for those looking to participate in cutting-edge medical research.
The app will automatically match individuals to trials based on their health data, sending push notifications to inform them of relevant opportunities, according to reports by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
This integration aims to streamline the process of signing up for trials, reducing barriers such as time-consuming paperwork and bureaucracy.
With the new functionality, patients can access critical trials with a simple tap, helping to accelerate the delivery of new treatments. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has called the app a “digital front door” to the NHS, emphasising its potential to bring transformative treatments to patients more swiftly.
Government Aims to Cut Clinical Trial Set-up Times
A major goal of the initiative is to significantly reduce the time it takes to set up clinical trials. According to the DHSC, while clinical trials take approximately 250 days to set up within the NHS, this new plan aims to reduce that time to 150 days by March 2026.
The government is working to simplify the administrative processes that currently slow down trial recruitment. This includes creating a national standardised contract for researchers, eliminating the need for multiple negotiations across different NHS sites.
Furthermore, NHS trusts will be ranked according to their clinical trial performance. Those that excel will be prioritised for funding, while underperforming trusts will be publicly named.
These changes are part of a broader effort to restore the UK’s global reputation as a leader in medical research, a goal that has gained urgency as pharmaceutical companies increasingly look to other countries for trials.
With the NHS app poised to become a vital tool in advancing clinical trials, the hope is that these efforts will not only streamline the recruitment process but also ensure that more diverse populations are represented in medical research, ultimately leading to better, more inclusive treatments.
