As part of our commitment to driving improvements and Integration in Health and Social Care, NESCHA Board member Derek Stow felt it only right that he should volunteer for the Novavax Trials that are been carried out at Hartlepool General Hospital. He is delighted that he played his part ( he visited the hospital for blood samples and doesn’t know what ‘treatment’ if any he received, but he played his part. He like so many other volunteers have provided the evidence for the vaccines acceptance as effective. We have now had confirmation that the vaccine will be produced at Fuji Film in Billingham ( where our Project Leader’s daughter in law works as a lead scientist in producing vaccines and more) . We done to Derek and all the volunteers, and the partners set out below
Derek felt that as he is in the over 70’s age group who are most vulnerable to the Virus he recognised that he was also in the group who may benefit most from the development of a successful vaccine and that older volunteers were vital for the research.
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has been at the centre of research into the global response to the unprecedented threat of COVID-19.
They were recently commended for their Outstanding Research Contribution from the Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria for their role in the RECOVERY trial, a national clinical trial to identify treatments for people hospitalised with COVID-19.
The current Novavax vaccine trial was a partnership led by Durham Tees Valley Research Alliance together North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and is yet one more example of local our medical expertise being called upon on a global level.
The Novavax trial, which has been rolled out across parts of the UK, has already seen tens of thousands of volunteers take part in the world’s first Phase 3 study to test the effectiveness of the new Novavax Coronavirus vaccine.
Interviewed by Matt Bailey at 7.10am on 29th July about NESCHA views on imminent Andy Burnham announcement later that morning. I was greatly encouraged by his feedback ( he said it was interesting and ran over time!) and wrote the paper attached.
I never dreamt that one day I would be living the system!.
Sadly Robert my co-author , died when I was in hospital some years ago but my wife visited daily and then she lived with a diagnosois mixed dementia for over four years, was admitted to hospital last October and, following a rapid discharge to a care home, died peacefully in December .
Despite a professional background in social work and years spent working on improving health and care systems, nothing fully prepares you for living that experience. It brought into sharp focus both the compassion of frontline staff and the frustrations families can face when services are not as joined-up or consistent as they should be.
NHS de-frazzle new book and brilliant review