University Hospitals Dorset’s research teams have been recognised for investigating potential treatments for Covid-19 and patient care.

The Wessex National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network presented the hospitals with the Outstanding Contribution to Covid-19 Research Award. This recognises the UHD research teams for the pace they adapted to working with Covid-19 safety procedures in place, delivering new treatments and medications directly to patients with the virus. Some of these treatments have now been proven to be effective in treating patients with Covid-19.

Since March 2020 the research team at Poole Hospital has recruited almost 2,000 patients for a range of research trials, including interventional treatment and drug trials and observational (data collection) studies. Meanwhile at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, the team recruited 2,678 participants for Covid-19 treatment studies, 300 of which were specially selected for the international RECOVERY trial which looked at potential treatments for Covid.

The RECOVERY research team were also winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Covid-19 Research Award, with research nurse Rebecca Miln receiving a special individual award for her contribution.

Rebecca said: “This award feels like a metaphorical pat on the back for all of our hard work. Coming together with research colleagues who we had often not worked closely with before and ensuring that we communicated and collaborated effectively made us all feel like we were contributing to something important. We are so proud to win this award, and to show the importance of well-designed clinical trials to identify life-saving treatments.”

Julie Camsooksai and Beverley Wadams, senior research nurses at Poole Hospital, said: “The UK research response to Covid-19 has been incredible and we are proud that we have been part of it. It would not have been achievable without the fantastic staff across our hospitals that are with our patients from the moment they come in to when they leave.

“For us this award represents the overwhelming generosity of our patients, families and staff. Their participation in research trials has enabled the local Dorset public to be part of this enormous contribution to combatting Covid-19.”