6PM develops dementia research database

West London Mental Health NHS Trust is developing a dementia research database with 6PM.

The Patient Register will enable clinical staff and carers to identify patients that are both suitable and would welcome the opportunity to participate in research studies and will be used as a recruitment and management tool for any UK Clinical Research Network study.

The register will hold details for patients assembled through community organisations and service structures as well as through specialist services and group them together on the basis of their clinical or mental conditions.

Patients and their carers who have consented to participate and are willing to be approached for their involvement in these research studies will have their demographic and basic clinical details held on the patient register application.

The trust’s research and development director and honorary consultant psychiatrist Dr Craig Ritchie said the Patient Register will be able to promote a greater number of patients and carers to be eligible for research.

“Linking people with dementia with high quality research has historically been very problematic. Registering an individual’s interest has proved very effective in earlier pilot work with DemReg but this new system will allow us to embed the register completely in clinical practice.

“This will allow even more people to gain access to the high quality dementia research we undertake,” he said.

The West London Mental Health Trust serves a population of 700,000 and treats around 20,000 people a year.