It is important to be aware that taking part in a research project is your choice and is voluntary. If you do not wish to take part, your care pathway will not be affected in any way. All NHS organisations are expected to participate and support health and care research. Health and care research may be exploring prevention, diagnosis or treatment of disease, which includes health and social factors in any disease area.
NHS organisations, companies developing new medicine or devices, universities or medical research charities may sponsor a research project. If you agree to take part in a research study, the Trust and sponsor will collect the minimum personally-identifiable information needed for the purposes of the research project. This information is kept securely and is used to conduct and analyse the research study.
To find out more about how patient information may be used when taking part in a research project visit the health and research website.