BOLTON is among a number of NHS Trusts in Greater Manchester increasing the research it offers patients.

According to a league table by the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) all NHS trusts in England are delivering clinical research, providing thousands more patients with access to better treatments and care.

The table, which was released last month, has shown how both Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group and the North West Ambulance Service Trust (NWAS) have increased the number of studies they conduct.

More than 60,000 patients have taken part in clinical research studies and over half of NHS trusts increased the number of studies in the last year.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has undertaken 52 studies so far this year, compared to 38 last year, with 715 people taking part.

Meanwhile Bolton CCG ran 16 studies with 82 people taking part, compared with 10 studies last year.

Over the past year NWAS has gone from conducting no research to running two different projects.

One of the studies, The Paramedic Acute Stroke Treatment Assessment trial is testing whether a more detailed assessment conducted by paramedics can speed up stroke treatment and improve recovery after stroke.

Duncan Robertson, consultant paramedic at the North West Ambulance Service said: "Research is crucial to improving our service, we are committed to ensuring that patients get high quality care now, but recognise that it’s equally as important for us to conduct and apply research to build better ways of working into our services for the future.

"Early interaction with someone who has had a stroke is crucial, it can impact immensely of their recovery and prognosis."

One hundred percent of NHS trusts in England are offering research to patients according to a the 2015/16 NHS Research Activity League Table.

Promoting, conducting and using clinical research to improve treatments for patients is part of the NHS England Constitution and the table provides a picture of how much clinical research is happening, where, in what types of trusts, and involving how many patients.

Chief executive officer of the NIHR CRN, Dr Jonathan Sheffield said: "This year’s NIHR league table shows every NHS trust in England is now research active, and that over 60 percent increased their research activity last year.

"Evidence clearly shows research active trusts have better patient outcomes, with 605,000 people across England participating in research in the NHS in last year the outlook is very encouraging

"The league table results are a great achievement for all involved, and highlight the growing commitment to research from the NHS and patients."