A SENIOR nurse has been appointed with the specific job of helping to improve services to patients through research in Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Sister Helen Moore has gained a coveted place on a national programme aimed at developing and growing research at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, which are both run by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

Helen Moore, Lead Research Nurse and Clinical Trials Manager, will be part of the National Institute for Health Research national nurse and midwife research leadership programme. She secured one of only 70 places nationwide on the programme.

It means that Helen will be given two days a week over the next three years to develop and build opportunities for nurses and midwives to be involved in research – as well as develop their own research – to enhance patient care and experience.

Ms Moore has been involved in clinical research, which includes clinical trials, for the last 24 years with 18 of those spent with the Trust.

“Clinical research is just so fascinating, and, for me, it is wonderful to be involved in the forefront of medicine,” she said.

“It is great to see the treatments that are being given to our patients today which have been successfully trialled here in the past.

“This programme will allow me to ignite an interest in research amongst our nursing and midwifery staff and really embed a research culture here, which is something that I have always wanted to do. It will also allow me to build a research-led care environment for our patients.”

Helen Jenkinson, Deputy Head of Nursing believes that the appointment will benefit patients

.“This is a really exciting role for Helen, and it is also a fantastic opportunity to really make research a key part of life here, which can only be great news for our patients and the future of healthcare,” Ms Jenkinson said.