South Shields medical team wins top research award

The gastroenterology team at South Tyneside Hospital has been recognised in the prestigeous Health Service Journal Awards as being the best in the country for their global impact on clinical research.

The award of recognition of the way their research has improved the quality of care to patients and driven innovation.

The development of South Tyneside as the most active bowel cancer screening research site in the UK and a key site internationally is one of their many achievements.

The team won the Clinical Research Impact Award.

Ken Bremner, chief executive of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This accolade is thoroughly deserved. The team, led by Professor Colin Rees, have transformed gastroenterology at South Tyneside District Hospital over the last 10 years by prioritising research. This has led to patients locally and more widely being given access to the very latest treatments and technologies and they are now recognised leaders in research regionally, nationally and internationally.”

Prof Rees, who is also the Trust’s director of research and development, said: “This award is fantastic news for our amazing, hard-working team. It is due to the dedication and commitment of each and every member that we have been able to transform gastroenterology in South Tyneside so rapidly.

“This award demonstrates the high quality of care and research we deliver for our patients and shows that the very best in healthcare research can be delivered from a small hospital.”

Chris Whitty, chief scientific adviser for the Department of Health p[resented the award.

He said: “Clinical research is an integral part of the NHS. South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust is setting a great example of making clinical research core business and helping patients to access research opportunities as part of their care.”