A Nottingham nurse has become the first in the UK to lead an international trial of a drug.
The trials of the drug tranexamic acid are called HALT-IT and are designed to test improved ways of treating internal bleeding of the gut.
Advanced nurse practitioner Ruaridh Thow said he was very proud to be first in the country to lead the trials.
It’s both a personal and professional privilege
He said: “The opportunity to conduct these trials of such importance is both a personal and professional privilege.
“Traditionally, trial approved prescribers have only even been doctors; however by using nurse practitioners we hope to increase the number of prescribers available.
“Then when an emergency comes in, we will be able to recruit as many patients as possible to these important research studies.”
It will help to improve care
Nurse Thow believes that developing the trial is critical.
He said: “This represents an important development for nursing within Nottingham University Hospital Trust but also nationally as well.
“The more nurse practitioners we have prescribing in trials, the more we can generate research findings.
“This will help to improve care for patients both nationally and locally.”
