Mid Yorkshire researchers recruit first patient in the UK to international wound care trial | News

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust is the first site in the country to recruit a patient into an international clinical trial examining different treatments for venous leg ulcers.

Liz Morgan, from Featherstone, has been suffering from a leg ulcer since July last year. She decided to take part in the study after it was recommended by the community nurses treating her.

Liz said: “I was under the care of the community nurses, and they mentioned I may be suitable to take part in an upcoming clinical trial. I was keen to try anything that may improve my condition – I didn’t have any reservations at all.

“It’s been a great experience and it’s also rewarding to be able to play a small part in helping find better treatments for others in the future. I would encourage anyone given the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial to give it go.”

Venous leg ulcers are long-lasting, chronic wounds that usually develop on the lower leg around the ankle area. They affect around one in every 500 people in the UK. They become more common with age, with around one in 50 people over the age of 80 affected.

The ulcers can cause pain, itching and swelling in the affected leg and require specialist treatment over time to help them heal. The main treatment is compression therapy, but due to the nature of the ulcer they can often produce large amounts of fluid, which can lead to discomfort and distress for the patient.

NHS Researchers are working with pharmaceutical company Essity to test two different types of highly absorbent wound dressings. The study aims to discover if one is more successful at managing the fluid or promotes better wound healing than the other. The dressings are being used in combination with compression therapy.

The study will be offered to Mid Yorkshire patients during 2025.

Leanne Atkin, vascular nurse consultant at the Trust and the trial’s Principal Investigator (PI), said: “Clinical trials contribute to a broader understanding of diseases and treatments and are key to the creation of new drugs, treatments and medical devices.

“Patients in research active hospitals have better outcomes, so it’s fantastic that we can offer access to clinical trials and new treatments to our patients here at Mid Yorkshire.

“I’m really proud of the team for recruiting the first patient on to this trial – it’s testament to their hard work, and to the importance the Trust places on research activity.”

To find out more about research at the Trust, visit www.midyorks.nhs.uk/research