Patients from across Forth Valley are contributing to the RECOVERY clinical trial, the world’s largest and fastest growing clinical trial, designed to examine potential treatments for COVID-19. The trial, with over 7000 patients recruited to date, is a UK-wide study, funded by the UK government in response to the global pandemic and the pressures it has created on the NHS.

Lynn Prentice – Lead Research Nurse, Anne Todd – Clinical Research Nurse, Patricia Turner – Clinical Research Nurse

The RECOVERY clinical trial at Forth Valley Royal Hospital began on the 10th April 2020 and over 20 patients have been recruited due to fantastic collaboration between local respiratory physicians, infectious diseases and intensive care consultants, junior doctors, pharmacy teams and NHS Forth Valley’s Clinical Research Team.

The RECOVERY trial aims to find effective treatment for COVID-19 by testing pre-existing medicines. These includes steroids, antivirals, antimalarial agents and antibiotics, with the trial also including an adaptive design that enables other potentially useful treatments to be quickly introduced for investigation.

All patients being treated at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for COVID-19 are invited to participate in the clinical trial. Those who consent are randomised to an active drug or standard care. The RECOVERY trial is one of a number of research projects being supported by NHS Forth Valley’s Clinical Research Team to advance research, development and evidence related to COVID-19 as quickly as possible.

Dario Salutous – Clinical Research Nurse, Lesley Symon – Health Care Support Worker, Pharmacy team

Local principal investigator for the RECOVERY trial and NHS Forth Valley Consultant Respiratory Physician, Dr Mark Spears (pictured above), said: ‘Clinical research is of crucial importance for the NHS as it helps improve patient care and treatment. The RECOVERY trial is an excellent example of this as it is one of the largest trials in the world involved in identifying potential treatments for patients hospitalised for COVID-19.

“This trial has generated significant interest which reflects the desire of local staff to improve outcomes for our patients. Many departments, services and individuals across NHS Forth Valley have played a role in bringing this trial to Forth Valley Royal Hospital and I would like to thank everyone involved for their support.”

Recovery Trial Medics

Working collaboratively across the UK, Forth Valley Royal Hospital is enabling access to a treatment trial for COVID-19 and delivering world-class research as part of coordinated efforts to gather reliable evidence.

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of Scottish Government and NHS Research Scotland support a single, national prioritisation process for COVID-19 research therefore ensuring resources and capacity of the health care system are not exceeded.