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Technology helps NIHR boost clinical trial recruitment in GP practices Clinical trials are essential for medical progress, but many struggle to recruit enough participants. As custodians of extensive, cradle-to-grave patient data, primary care teams have the potential to transform clinical trial recruitment, supporting research that’s more inclusive and representative of our population. Recruit, our award-winning clinical trial recruitment tool, has helped the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) invite over 560,000 patients to take part in research via local GP practices. Increasing patient participation As part of the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network (RDN), Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands used Recruit to support their trial recruitment. Integrated with our EMIS-X clinical system, Recruit allows practices to quickly identify and invite patients to trials in just a few clicks, without adding to their workload. In just 6 months, 4 studies saw over 560,000 invitations sent to potentially eligible patients. In a 2024 report, Newmarket Strategy found that 2 in 3 healthcare professionals are more likely to engage in research when it fits within their existing systems.

This insight was evident in Greater Manchester, which saw a 21% increase in patient invitations from practices using Recruit. Improving access for all patients Greater Manchester and the West Midlands RRDNs have also been able to use Recruit as a mechanism to tackle health inequalities, enabling practices serving underrepresented communities to more easily offer research opportunities to their patients. Supporting GP involvement Recruit not only simplifies participation but also allows practices to receive payments for research activities, aligning with NIHR’s primary care strategy. Paula Lock, Business Manager at the Brooke Surgery, Hyde said: “Recruit was a fantastic starting point for our journey into clinical trials. Having research data and searches readily available within our clinical systems made a significant difference.” By making research a seamless part of primary care, Recruit is helping the NHS, NIHR, and GP practices drive vital studies that improve patient care and the future of healthcare.

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