Hospital’s success highlights commitment to advancing cardiovascular research.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King’s Lynn has become a national leader in a global clinical trial for heart failure patients. The hospital has successfully enrolled five patients in the study, a key milestone that underscores its dedication to improving treatment through research.
Heart failure is a serious, long-term condition that affects around 920,000 people in the UK. Each year, approximately 200,000 new cases are diagnosed. According to NHS England, that number could almost double by 2040. Continued research into how to prevent and treat heart failure is essential to tackling the growing burden.
QEH is one of just 15 hospitals in the UK taking part in a major heart failure study sponsored by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The study is testing a new investigational treatment that could improve care for patients living with the condition.
By joining the trial, QEH has given local patients access to cutting-edge therapies while also contributing to a wider global effort to advance heart failure treatment. Since the study began, the hospital has taken a leading role in patient recruitment, becoming one of the top-enrolling sites in the country.
Dr Rudolf Duehmke, the hospital’s Principal Investigator for the study, praised the team for their work.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognised as the UK’s leading recruiter in this global heart failure trial,” he said. “This result shows the outstanding dedication of our Research and Innovation team, especially Tom Dymond, Grace Hasnip, Debbie Wilding, and Drs Fady Magdy, Amanda King, and Ash Reddy. Their hard work has been essential—particularly at a smaller hospital like ours, competing with much larger centres.”
The hospital’s Head of Research, Innovation and Development, Tom Dymond, also expressed pride in the team’s achievement.
“Recruiting five patients is a fantastic result for our cardiology department,” he said. “It’s the first time the Trust has delivered research involving new medications for heart failure. I want to thank the patients who are taking part in the trial and every research participant across the Trust.”
Medical Director Rebecca Martin added: “We are pleased to offer our patients the chance to be part of important studies like this. Where possible, research should be part of patient care.”
With recruitment still ongoing, QEH aims to build on this success. The Trust is focused on meeting—and surpassing—its recruitment targets, helping bring new treatment options closer to the people who need them most.
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