A RESEARCH team from The Royal Bolton Hospital have scooped a prestigious award.

The Core Research Team won the gong for Best Community Research Contribution at the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Awards.

The team, led by Alison Loftus, have worked hard to reach patients in the community for research on cancer, ophthalmology, diabetes and children's health.

Mrs Loftus, research and development manager at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to have won this award.

"I work with a fantastic team and it's great to receive such an accolade - especially when we were up against big teaching hospitals like Salford and Central Manchester.

"We've worked really hard to reach sections of the community that are usually very difficult to reach.

"It's all about getting them involved with our projects and making them aware."

Dr Jackie Bene, chief executive of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Not everyone realises that our staff in Bolton undertake research yet it is so important for making improvements for patients. This particular team has done very well in recruiting local people to take part in research and I am very proud of their achievement."

The group picked up the gong at a glittering awards ceremony in Manchester.

The event, held in a city centre hotel, saw health researchers and teams awarded for their efforts across 13 categories.

Debbie Vinsun, chief operating officer of the Clinical Research Network for Greater Manchester, said: “Clinical research provides the evidence we need to improve treatments for patients, and having a strong research culture helps to create a strong health service.

"By providing more opportunities for patients to consider research alongside their other treatment options, we can contribute towards a healthier Greater Manchester. The research awards provide a great way to recognise and reward some of the people and teams who make health care research in our region so successful and dynamic."

The Royal Bolton is currently bidding to become a "super hospital" as part of the Healthier Together consultation.

Almost 1,500 Bolton people have had their say on the biggest shake-up to healthcare Greater Manchester has ever seen.

More than 23,000 people responded to the public consultation, which could see four or five specialist super hospitals created to deal with the most complex, difficult and urgent cases.

The Royal Bolton, run by Royal Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, is in the running to become one of the specialist sites.