Carol Firth, Clinical Trials Coordinator for our Gastroenterology and Hepatology research department at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has received the Academy for Healthcare Science Clinical Research Practitioner accreditation – and is the first in the Trust to do so! Well done, Carol!
Carol started at the Trust 27 years ago, with 10 years dedicated to research. She started as a Healthcare Assistant at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and has progressed as a clinical professional through her dedication and hard work.
What is the Clinical Research Practioner accreditation?
Clinical Research Practitioners (CRP) are now identified as an occupational group in health and care in the UK by the UK Professional Standards Authority (PSA). In April 2020, accredited registration for CRPs was approved by the PSA as part of the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) Accredited Register. Carol is the first person at BTHFT to be accepted onto this register which is an amazing achievement as there are just 448 CRPs currently on the register across the UK.
Carol shared: “The part of my job I love the most is working so closely with Hepatology patients and their families and/or carers. Getting to know them and their individual experience of having a liver disease has definitely had an impact on me as you see their daily struggles and how it really impacts on their lives.
Their reaction and engagement with the trials and the empowerment they felt by taking part in something that may lead to a benefit for others in the future really enthuses me.”
Getting the accreditation means Carol, and other CRPs, are classed as clinical professionals and provides a professional identity. Carol shared, “Having my very own registration number and an AHCS accredited registered mark marks a significant milestone in my professional journey. This achievement is not merely a formality; it brings a deep sense of belonging to a particular role and a clear professional identity that outlines my contributions to the healthcare field. By holding this recognition, I have established my place within a community that values rigorous standards and exceptional care.
In the healthcare landscape, professionals often perceive roles through traditional titles such as nurse or doctor. However, my role diverges from these conventional definitions. While I do not directly provide patient care, my research expertise is invaluable in shaping the quality of healthcare delivery. Research plays a pivotal role in enhancing patient outcomes, and I am incredibly passionate about this aspect of my profession. For instance, integrating research findings into everyday clinical practice can lead to improved treatment protocols, thereby benefiting patient care directly.”
Why Carol is so passionate about research in the NHS
“Research and clinical trials are essential; they offer the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of current and future patients. This is what motivates me to want to work in clinical trials as ultimately you are working to better improve the understanding and the outcomes for our patients.
Through research, I aim to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that every advancement in understanding translates into better care for patients.”
One of Carol’s best memories working in research
“I was the first in Bradford to set up and deliver a Phase 1 study – this is when an Investigational Medicinal Product is tested for the first time in humans.
Being part of the NOVAVAX vaccine during Covid-19 was tough but rewarding as I knew I was supporting the better health of populations locally, nationally and Globally.
I recruited two UK First participants in Hepatology for Primary Biliary Cholangitis (liver disease). These participants were given access to new treatments which are not yet available in the NHS.”
To find out more about completing the Clinical Research Practitioner course, check out: www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/clinical-research-courses-and-support or contact Jen Syson, our Trust Research Matron.
