Cheshire GPs support Covid-19 research

Thirteen GP practices across Cheshire have signed up to enrol patients in research investigating how to protect older people from Covid-19.

Patients are being invited onto a study called PRINCIPLE, or the Platform Randomised trial of Interventions against Covid-19 in Older People. The study is one three being prioritised by the department of health, and will allow researchers to evaluate how to prevent Covid-19 progressing in older people.

Dr Andrew Wilson, Chair of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

I’m extremely proud of the way primary care colleagues in Cheshire continue to care for patients despite the Covid-19 outbreak. Practices are showing remarkable flexibility in their approaches to support local people.

“This research could prove pivotal in enabling those who are most vulnerable to Covid-19 to recover more quickly.”

Over 500 GP practices are taking part nationally in the study, which is recruiting older people aged 65 and over, or those 50-64 with a pre-existing illness that puts them at greater risk from the disease.

Dr Pete Wilson, from the Middlewood Partnership, said:

When faced with the national emergency of COVID-19, we were determined to get the PRINCIPLE study set up extra-fast – a task that’s taken much hard work but which our team has carried out superbly.”

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Networks (CRN) for Greater Manchester and North West Coast are encouraging eligible patients to take part in the study, which is led by Oxford University researchers.

Irrespective of their GP practice, older people with symptoms can also pre-screen for the trial via an online questionaire.

Dr Sheila McCorkindale, specialty lead for primary care at NIHR CRN Greater Manchester, said:

Research is a key part of the Government’s strategy to stop Covid-19 and it is vital that studies are carried out with patients in all types of clinical settings – including general practice and out-of-hours.

“Staff at primary care centres have done an excellent job fast-tracking this study and we thank them for their efforts. The trial’s reach is now being expanded via the questionnaire. The more patients who take part, the more they can potentially benefit from the treatments.”