RESEARCHERS at the trust that runs Basingstoke hospital have achieved regional recognition for their 'outstanding' efforts on an collaborative study.

The research department of Hampshire Hospitals NHS foundation Trust won the 'Outstanding collaborative working' award at the Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex Awards on Thursday, March 21.

The event, run by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), took place at S Mary’s Stadium, in Southampton.

Nominees gathered from across Hampshire, Dorset, south Wiltshire and Isle of Wight to celebrate how their research is helping to improve patient care and champion innovation in the NHS.

Hampshire Hospitals’ research team earned their award for its work on a research study that was seamlessly mobilised across all three hospitals run by the Trust, in Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester.

The research was conducted about ReSPECT, a nationally agreed tool which supports discussions about planning care and treatment in the event of an emergency.

The team looked at how, when and why treatment plans are made and the effects they have on patient care. A mixture of methods were used, including interviews with patients and data collection.

Members of staff including junior doctors, ward clerks, senior managers and more were all instrumental in delivering this important research. Training was also delivered to enable staff across the organisation to easily contribute to this important project.

Sarah Clarke, research and development manager, said: “Without the involvement and support of each of these different staff groups, the study would not have been a success, so it’s fantastic this has been recognised.

“Choosing to think ‘outside the box’ and deliver this in a different way with the collaboration of our Trust colleagues allowed us to successfully complete this study, and I am so proud of how everyone worked together as one team to deliver the results.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who was involved – this award is for us all.”

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals, added: “Research and collaboration are both incredibly important in our Trust and it is fantastic to see these two principles working hand in hand.

“Studies like the ReSPECT Study are hugely important so that we can continue to deliver the best possible care to our patients.

“I am exceptionally proud of our research team and all of the other staff across 37 wards in our hospitals who were involved in delivering this study, and getting the recognition they so clearly deserve.”