Research participants were treated to tea and cake at a special Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust event this week to thank them for their contribution to the future of medical science.

Ben Jones, Clinical Research Practitioner, who organised the event said: “We wanted to express our gratitude to our patients who come forward to take part in trials at the Trust. Without them, we couldn’t make progress in finding new drugs, medical devices and surgical procedures.”

Devinder Chana from Walsall, who is participating in the RACER knee surgery trial said: “I am so grateful to have this opportunity to take part in research and it is lovely for the staff to show their appreciation to us in this way.” Mrs Chana is pictured with Mr Fahad Hossain, Consultant and Trust Director of Research and Development.

Walsall Manor Hospital is the first district general hospital in the country to offer the robot arm-assisted surgery which is part of the trial.

The team is also hoping to sign up members for a new Patient Research Council, which will help to steer the research direction of the Trust. Ben added: “The aim of the council is to ensure patient input into the research process, so that we deliver what the local population wants and needs. We are hopeful that everyone here will be willing to take part, as we already know they are happy to contribute.”

Around 20 patients attended the event, along with a number of Principal Investigators, who run the research studies, Group Trust Chief Executive Professor David Loughton CBE, and staff from the Trust Research Team.

If you would like to find out more about taking part in studies, go to bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk